India launched #OperationSagarBandhu to deliver urgent humanitarian aid to Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah killed over 123 people, injured hundreds, left 30 missing, and affected nearly 44,000 from 12,313 families with floods and landslides.
A C-130J aircraft airlifted 12 tonnes of supplies like tents, tarpaulins, blankets, hygiene kits, and ready-to-eat meals to Colombo, following naval deliveries from INS Vikrant and INS Udaygiri of 4.5 tonnes dry rations and 2 tonnes fresh rations; an IL-76 carried 80+ NDRF personnel with equipment for rescues in Badulla and Nuwara Eliya.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences and pledged more aid under Neighbourhood First and Vision MAHASAGAR, while External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced the landings, with the Indian High Commission reaffirming solidarity amid Sri Lanka’s worst disaster in years.
Swift Aid Deployment
Operation Sagar Bandhu showcases India’s rapid multi-modal response, with the Indian Air Force scrambling C-130J and IL-76 from Hindon Airbase overnight on November 28-29, delivering 21-33 tonnes total relief plus eight tonnes equipment.
Two NDRF teams, led by Commandant PK Tiwary of the 8th Battalion, include 80 rescuers and four canines equipped with inflatable boats, hydraulic tools, medical kits, and communication gear for flood evacuations. The Indian High Commission stated on X: “India stands firmly with the people of Sri Lanka, reaffirming its unwavering commitment to the Neighbourhood First policy,” as supplies replenish essentials for devastated communities in tea-growing highlands.
Cyclone Ditwah’s Devastation
Cyclone Ditwah struck on November 27, unleashing over 200mm rains in provinces like Western, Central, and Sabaragamuwa, causing landslides, four homes destroyed, over 600 damaged, and river surges in Kelani and Attanagalu threatening Colombo and Gampaha.
Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre reported 61-123 deaths, with warnings of an “unprecedented disaster”; the storm, now heading towards Tamil Nadu-Puducherry, prompted India to deploy 14 NDRF teams in coastal districts like Villupuram and Nagapattinam, plus reinforcements for Chennai. Around 300 Indian passengers, including 150 from Tamil Nadu, remain stranded at Colombo airport due to cancellations, with Chief Minister MK Stalin coordinating evacuations.
India’s Neighbourly Solidarity
This operation continues India’s disaster aid tradition to Sri Lanka, echoing past relief during crises, guided by humanitarian principles over politics. PM Modi expressed prayers for victims and readiness for further support, while EAM Jaishankar highlighted coordinated HADR efforts as the first responder.
Domestically, heightened vigilance in southern India underscores regional vulnerability to such cyclones.
India and Sri Lanka share deep-rooted bilateral relations shaped by geography, history, culture, and strategic interests in the Indian Ocean region. As closest maritime neighbours, ties date back millennia through Buddhism, trade, and migration, with India providing over $4 billion in aid during Sri Lanka’s 2022 economic crisis and recent debt restructuring converting $100 million loans to grants in 2025.
In April 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit led to seven key MoUs on defence cooperation, the first major agreement since the 1987-1990 IPKF intervention, covering joint exercises, maritime surveillance, and countering China’s influence at Hambantota port, alongside energy hubs in Trincomalee and digital transformation pacts
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The Logical Indian celebrates Operation Sagar Bandhu as a beacon of empathy and harmony, where India’s prompt aid transcends borders to ease suffering and foster coexistence amid nature’s fury. By prioritising kindness through swift rescues and supplies, it promotes dialogue and collaborative resilience in disaster-prone South Asia.
#OperationSagarBandhu
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) November 29, 2025
Two Chetak helicopters from @IN_R11Vikrant took off for Search and Rescue Operations with 🇱🇰 @airforcelk personnel onboard.#IndiaFirstResponder pic.twitter.com/qPhfQmQzoD
