IAF personnel boarding an Indian Air Force Il-76 bound for Sri Lanka. (Photo: IAF)
New Delhi: The Indian Air Force flew a C-130 and an IL-76 from Hindon Air Force Station on the night of November 28-29 and delivered 21 tonnes of emergency supplies to Colombo alongside more than 80 personnel from the National Disaster Response Force, the IAF said on Saturday.
The operation marks India’s latest deployment under its stated policy of acting as a “first responder” to humanitarian crises in the Indian Ocean region, with the external affairs minister, S Jaishankar, and other senior officials emphasizing the urgency of the mission.
Operation Sagar Bandhu | Humanitarian Assistance
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) November 29, 2025
In the wake of the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah across Sri Lanka, India swiftly launched Operation Sagar Bandhu to bolster relief efforts.
The Indian Air Force promptly deployed one C-130 and one IL-76 from Hindan Air… pic.twitter.com/cIT7gKiPNs
Scale of disaster
Cyclone Ditwah intensified over the southwest Bay of Bengal before making landfall, bringing exceptionally heavy rainfall across Sri Lanka. The storm triggered widespread flooding and landslides, killing dozens and displacing tens of thousands across multiple provinces, according to Sri Lankan authorities.
Transport, power and communications networks suffered extensive damage, prompting Colombo to request external assistance. By November 28, when India launched its relief operation, Sri Lankan media were reporting rising numbers of missing persons and mounting pressure on local disaster response capabilities.
The floods represent one of Sri Lanka’s most severe natural disasters in recent years, with affected communities facing acute shortages of food, shelter and medical supplies.
Air and sea deployment
India activated Operation Sagar Bandhu on November 28, combining air and naval assets to move relief material and personnel into Sri Lanka. The Indian Navy dispatched ships carrying additional supplies, while the air force provided rapid delivery of critical items and specialist teams.
The IL-76 heavy transport aircraft carried nine tonnes of relief material along with NDRF rescuers, canine units and heavy rescue equipment. The C-130, a tactical airlifter frequently used for humanitarian missions, transported the remainder of the initial 21-tonne consignment.
Relief cargo included ready-to-eat meals, tents, tarpaulins, blankets, hygiene kits and medicines intended for immediate distribution in flood-affected areas. The NDRF contingent comprised two Urban Search and Rescue teams equipped with inflatable boats, hydraulic cutting tools, breaching equipment, advanced communications systems and medical kits.
These specialist teams, trained in disaster response operations, were tasked with supporting Sri Lankan authorities in search and rescue efforts in urban and semi-urban locations hit by flash floods and landslides.
Cumulative assistance
Indian and Sri Lankan officials indicated that approximately 27 tonnes of relief material had reached Sri Lanka by the end of November 29, combining air and sea deliveries. The figure includes supplies landed by Indian naval vessels in Colombo, with additional consignments planned.
New Delhi framed the operation as an expression of solidarity with its island neighbour, with the prime minister, Narendra Modi, publicly emphasizing India’s commitment to supporting Sri Lanka during the crisis.
The deployment builds on previous humanitarian missions in the region, including earlier operations under the Sagar series, which have seen India use military and civilian assets to respond to natural disasters and emergencies across the Indian Ocean.
India’s response reflects its strategic emphasis on strengthening ties with neighbouring countries through rapid disaster relief, leveraging its geographic proximity and military logistics capabilities to deliver assistance within hours of requests from partner nations.
The operation also underscores the Indian Air Force’s role in humanitarian missions, with transport aircraft regularly deployed for relief efforts both domestically and in neighbouring countries. The service operates a fleet of heavy and medium airlifters capable of moving large quantities of supplies and personnel over long distances at short notice.
Sri Lankan authorities have not yet provided comprehensive casualty figures or damage assessments, though early reports suggest significant destruction of property and infrastructure across affected provinces.
