India has sent 53 tons of relief material to Sri Lanka under Operation Sagar Bandhu as part of its emergency response to Cyclone Ditwah, which caused widespread damage across the island nation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held telephone conversation with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Monday and expressed condolences on the loss of lives and widespread devastation in Sri Lanka in the wake of Cyclone Ditwah.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) have carried out extensive rescue and relief operations across several parts of Sri Lanka following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
The last batch of stranded passengers at the Bandarnaike International Airport in Colombo have arrived back home, as shared by the High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka.
In a post on X, the High Commission of India in Sri Lanka said the stranded passengers were seen off by Indian High Commissioner Santosh Jha before boarding an Indian Air Force aircraft to Thiruvananthapuram.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said that under Operation Sagar Bandhu, another Indian Air Force aircraft landed in Colombo carrying disaster response supplies.
Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said that Indian aircraft have evacuated stranded people in Sri Lanka, including citizens from Germany, South Africa, Slovenia and United Kingdom.
The Indian Air Force on Sunday said that under Operation Sagar Bandhu, IAF C-17 airlifted NDRF teams and equipment from Pune. The ongoing operation has tapped into domestic support operations.