Colombo, Dec 2 (NationPress) In a significant move demonstrating India's unwavering humanitarian commitment to Sri Lanka under Operation Sagar Bandhu following Cyclone Ditwah, an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter successfully delivered crucial relief supplies to Poramadulla in the Kandy district and facilitated the airlifting of personnel from Nuwara Eliya district to bolster ongoing emergency response efforts.

As stated by the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka on X, “Under Operation Sagar Bandhu, IAF IFC 1885 transported vital relief materials to Poramadulla and assisted personnel movement from Nuwara Eliya, thereby enhancing ground operations where assistance is most needed.”

Moreover, the IAF helicopters executed numerous evacuations across Sri Lanka, including the airlift of a cardiac patient from Irunguwatta and the rescue of a pregnant woman with children from Kotmale, ensuring their safe transport to Colombo. Additionally, essential supplies were delivered to Mandaram Nuwara, reinforcing ongoing ground relief initiatives.

Continuing its operations, the IAF managed to transport 2,000 kg of essential supplies to Mandaram Nuwara, evacuated 17 individuals, including a heart patient from Irunguwatta to Matale, and rescued 24 people, which included a pregnant woman and five children, successfully bringing them to Colombo.

On a related note, an IAF C-17 transport aircraft, equipped with a self-sufficient modular field hospital, over 70 medical and support personnel, and vehicles, touched down in Colombo. External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar shared the information on X, emphasizing India's ongoing assistance in Sri Lanka's flood relief efforts.

The IAF's C-17 Globemaster also airlifted a Para Field Hospital, along with equipment and 73 medical personnel from Agra, landing in Colombo at 5:45 PM IST on Tuesday, to aid the relief operations.

Simultaneously, IAF Mi-17 helicopters performed various missions, transporting over eight tonnes of relief supplies and evacuating 65 survivors, including foreign nationals, critically ill patients, and a pregnant woman.

According to the Indian High Commission in Colombo, India dispatched two rapidly deployable Field Hospitals, which were urgently needed within Sri Lanka, along with 70 personnel to provide healthcare support to the disaster-stricken regions.

In the meantime, local media reports indicate that the death toll associated with the severe weather triggered by Cyclone Ditwah in Sri Lanka has tragically risen to 410, as cited by the Disaster Management Centre (DMC). The most recent updates reveal that around 1.4 million people from 407,594 families have been affected as the island grapples with floods, landslides, and extreme weather conditions.

The High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, evaluated the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rescue operations at Sedawatta near Colombo on Tuesday.

“High Commissioner Santosh Jha assessed the NDRF rescue operations taking place in Sedawatta today. Teams are conducting door-to-door evacuations and distributing essential supplies to inundated areas around Nadeegama, beside the Kelani River. The High Commissioner also engaged with locals in the vicinity, some of whom are facing 6 to 8 feet of floodwaters,” the Indian High Commission in Sri Lanka reported on X.