Post by : Rameen Ariff

Colombo, Sri Lanka – In a major humanitarian response, India has dispatched critical relief material to Sri Lanka as the island nation battles one of its worst flooding disasters in recent decades. A C130 aircraft carrying essential food items, sanitary supplies, and emergency aid landed at Bandaranaike International Airport in Colombo at around 1:30 am, where officials from the Indian High Commission and Sri Lanka Air Force welcomed the shipment.

The relief effort is part of Operation Sagar Bandhu, launched by India to assist Sri Lanka during this unprecedented crisis. Earlier, the first batch of supplies had been transported via the Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and frontline ship INS Udaigiri. The aid comes amid alarming warnings from Sri Lankan authorities about a worsening disaster in the Western Province, where rising water levels in the Kelani and Attanagalu rivers have flooded vast areas and disrupted daily life.

The scale of the catastrophe has been severe. The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reported 69 fatalities as of early Saturday, with 34 more people still missing. Over 200,000 individuals from more than 61,000 families have been affected. The Central Province, particularly Kandy, has witnessed some of the highest casualties, with local officials estimating the death toll could be much higher than official figures. Badulla district in the central hills has also suffered extensively from landslides, with dozens missing and confirmed dead.

Cyclone Ditwah has intensified the situation, causing rivers and reservoirs across the island to overflow. Authorities have urged residents in vulnerable areas to evacuate immediately. The Sri Lankan weather bureau has forecast further rainfall exceeding 200 millimeters in the next 24 hours, although the cyclone is expected to move away by late Saturday.

Power outages have affected nearly 35 percent of the country, leaving approximately seven million people without electricity. Efforts to restore services have been slowed due to persistent flooding and rain. Meanwhile, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences for the lives lost and assured that New Delhi will continue providing support and aid as the situation evolves.

This relief initiative marks a significant step in India-Sri Lanka cooperation during natural disasters, highlighting the swift humanitarian response in the face of one of Sri Lanka’s most devastating floods in recent years.

#Global News #Asia News