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Ditwah Cyclone Update: India sent relief under Operation Sagar Bandhu to Ditwah cyclone-affected Sri Lanka. INS Vikrant and INS Udayagiri delivered rescue and supplies. This mission showcases India’s role as a HADR capability, strategic power and regional trusted ally.
Whenever the ocean roared, disaster struck the coast. Then, the bosom of India came in the form of Bandhu. After the huge devastation caused by the severe storm Ditwah, India has immediately extended a helping hand towards its nearest maritime neighbor i.e. Sri Lanka, which has been named Operation Sagar Bandhu. Sri Lanka wholeheartedly praised and expressed gratitude to India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for this prompt Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) mission. Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India, Mahishini Colon, thanked PM Modi, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the Government of India on the social media platform X and said that India has stood firmly with Sri Lanka in every crisis.
Prime Minister Modi himself issued a message on Twitter expressing deep condolences to the people who lost their lives in the Ditwah cyclone and prayed for the safety and rehabilitation of the affected families. He clarified that in accordance with India’s ‘Neighborhood First’ policy and ‘Vision Ocean’, India has immediately sent relief material and necessary support. The seriousness of the mission can be gauged from the fact that India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and the latest indigenous stealth frigate INS Udayagiri handed over relief material in Colombo. This is the first overseas deployment of both the warships and they were representing the Indian Navy at the International Fleet Review 2025 held in Sri Lanka.
Cyclone Ditvaha has caused severe floods and landslides in Sri Lanka, due to which the death toll has reached 56 so far. According to Army Commander Lieutenant General Lasantha Rodrigo, more than 20,500 Sri Lankan military personnel have been deployed in rescue and relief operations. More than 3,490 people have been safely rescued and resettled elsewhere. Sri Lanka’s Meteorological Department has warned that heavy rains will continue till Sunday, which has further increased the challenge of relief operations.
Operation Sagar Bandhu: Why is this action important?
Operation Sagar Bandhu underlines India’s Neighbor First policy and role as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean region. This is not just a humanitarian aid mission but it is a demonstration of India’s growing strategic and moral influence in the region.
• Demonstration of HADR diplomacy: Operation Sagar Bandhu showcases India’s humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) capability in times of crisis, thereby strengthening bilateral ties.
• Utilization of strategic assets: Using major warships like INS Vikrant and INS Udayagiri in relief operations showcases India’s maritime power and quick response capability on the global stage.
• Balancing Chinese influence: By sending prompt and selfless aid at critical times, India balances China’s growing strategic influence in the region, proving that it is the most reliable ally.
• Vision Ocean Commitment: This operation reinforces India’s commitment to Prime Minister Modi’s vision ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region), which means ensuring security and growth for all in the region.
