As the ongoing ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’ continues to save lives, the Indian Army on Tuesday announced deployment of an Integrated Task Force – a high-readiness, self-contained composite Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) contingent from the Shatrujeet Brigade – to provide critical relief, restore essential services and support families in Sri Lanka impacted by Cyclone Ditwah.
“The mission embodies our civilisational pledge of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – The World is One Family’ as the Indian Army stands firmly with Sri Lanka in its hour of need,” Indian Army’s Additional Directorate General of Public Information (ADGPI) posted on X. The Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka stated that India is bringing two rapidly deployable Field Hospitals by Tuesday evening as they are urgently required in Sri Lanka. As many as 70 personnel are also travelling along to provide healthcare support to disaster-affected areas.
The Indian Army has deployed a specialised contingent to Sri Lanka under Operation Sagar Bandhu launched on November 28 to provide urgent search and rescue and HADR support to Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah caused severe flooding, loss of life and widespread disruption across the island nation. Reinforcing its commitment to stand by the people of Sri Lanka in their hour of need, India has sent a contingent comprising dedicated medical, engineering and signals components equipped to provide immediate and sustained relief.
The medical team comprises Advanced Dressing Stations (ADS) and Mobile Surgical Teams (MST), equipped with operation theatre, capable of carrying out major and minor surgeries. It also has a dedicated facility to hold 20–30 patients at a time. Engineering elements, part of the Indian Army contingent, are supporting restoration of essential services and infrastructure and the signals detachment is ensuring uninterrupted communication for relief operations.
Meanwhile, the death toll from severe weather triggered by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka has risen to 410, local media reported on Tuesday, citing the Disaster Management Centre (DMC). According to the latest update, 1.4 million people from 407,594 families have been affected in Sri Lanka as the island nation continues to experience floods, landslides and severe weather conditions.
