Indian troops arrive in Sri Lanka to support cyclone relief under Operation Sagar Bandhu

India has stepped up large-scale humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka as the island nation reels from massive destruction caused by Cyclone Ditwah. A special contingent of the Indian Army arrived in Sri Lanka on Wednesday to support ongoing rescue, relief, and medical operations under the newly launched Operation Sagar Bandhu.

The deployment follows swift action by New Delhi to assist its neighbour, with India positioning itself once again as the first responder in the region. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said on Tuesday that India is committed to supporting Sri Lanka through its flood relief efforts. An Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft carrying a self-contained modular field hospital, more than 70 medical and support personnel, and essential vehicles touched down in Colombo as part of the broader relief mission.

According to the Indian High Commission in Colombo, two rapidly deployable field hospitals have been sent to affected districts, with healthcare teams now providing medical care on the ground as search and relief operations expand.

Sri Lankan authorities reported that the death toll from the extreme weather linked to Cyclone Ditwah has risen to 410. The country’s Disaster Management Centre said that 1.4 million people from over 407,000 families have been impacted as floods, landslides, and heavy rainfall continue to affect multiple provinces.

Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India, Mahishini Colonne, expressed deep appreciation for India’s immediate support, recalling previous crises where India played a crucial role. She said that the extent of the damage is being seen as extensive and that the relief and rescue phase is still underway, with a full assessment expected to take time.

She added that India has always been regarded as the first responder during the tsunami, the economic crisis, and now the cyclone. It was noted that medical teams and mobile hospitals are already being deployed on the ground and are being coordinated with Sri Lankan officials. The assistance is being viewed as support that helps the country through this difficult period and is believed to further strengthen the bond between the two nations.

Operation Sagar Bandhu reflects India’s broader Neighbourhood First policy and its MAHASAGAR vision for regional cooperation and maritime security. The rapid mobilisation of personnel, equipment, and medical capacity highlights India’s continued role as a dependable partner and net security provider in South Asia during times of crisis.