In a rapid response to the escalating humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka, Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft safely transported more than 300 Indian nationals away from regions ravaged by floods and landslides, touching down in Thiruvananthapuram late Sunday evening. The operation underscores the IAF’s ongoing collaboration with Sri Lankan authorities to deliver rescue and relief support amid the disaster.
Heavy-lift aircraft, including IL-76 and C-130J models, departed from Colombo and ferried over 200 evacuees by 7:30 p.m. on Sunday. A subsequent C-130J flight, carrying an additional 135 individuals, was anticipated to arrive around 11 p.m., completing the initial phase of extractions.
Launched under Operation Sagar Bandhu, the mission has mobilized the IAF’s Southern Air Command, deploying Mi-17 V5 helicopters and Garud special forces personnel to the capital. Working in tandem with local officials, these assets have conducted aerial rescues for trapped and wounded residents in inundated and debris-strewn zones, while also facilitating the transport of Sri Lankan Army troops to hard-hit locales.
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The helicopters executed several sorties, notably relocating 57 Sri Lankan Army members from Diyathalawa Army Camp and Colombo to the isolated, landslide-battered Kotmale area in central Sri Lanka. In a particularly intricate effort, IAF teams executed a combined operation: Garud commandos were inserted close to groups of marooned individuals, directing them to designated pickup points for helicopter extraction. This maneuver successfully rescued 55 people—including Indian citizens, other foreigners, and local survivors—bringing them to Colombo. Among those airlifted were six injured individuals requiring medical attention and four young children.
An official IAF release detailed the operation’s precision, emphasizing the seamless integration of ground and air elements to navigate challenging terrain and weather conditions.
The force has reaffirmed its dedication to prolonged relief activities, pledging to furnish whatever aid is necessary to bolster Sri Lanka’s path to recovery. “The IAF continues to extend critical Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) support to the people of Sri Lanka as part of Operation Sagar Bandhu, following the severe humanitarian impact caused by recent natural calamities in the region,” a defence spokesperson stated.
As the island nation grapples with the aftermath of these torrential downpours and earth movements, India’s prompt intervention highlights the deep ties between the two neighbors, offering a lifeline to those caught in the deluge.
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