Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 1 (UNI) The Indian Air Force (IAF) has intensified its large-scale humanitarian assistance and disaster-relief efforts in Sri Lanka under Operation ‘Sagar Bandhu’, extending critical support to regions affected by severe floods and landslides triggered by the recent cyclone.
The IAF, working in close coordination with Sri Lankan authorities, has carried out major rescue and evacuation missions in the landslide-hit Kotmale region, which remains completely isolated due to disrupted road connectivity.
On Sunday night, the IAF airlifted 335 Indian citizens from Sri Lanka to Thiruvananthapuram, ensuring their safe evacuation from disaster-affected zones. Along with transporting stranded civilians, the IAF has deployed specialised medical teams, rescue personnel, and essential relief materials to strengthen Sri Lanka’s emergency response.
The operations, led by the Southern Air Command, involved Mi-17V5 medium-lift helicopters and Garud Special Forces personnel, who were deployed to Colombo to assist local agencies. Working in close coordination with Sri Lankan authorities, IAF helicopters conducted multiple sorties across isolated, flood-hit regions—rescuing injured and stranded civilians, delivering emergency supplies, and airlifting disaster-response teams to critical locations.
In several high-risk missions, IAF helicopters transported 57 Sri Lankan Army personnel from the Diyatalawa Army Camp and Colombo to Kotmale in the Central Province, one of the worst-affected regions due to landslides.
Throughout the day, IAF helicopters evacuated 45 stranded individuals, including 6 critical casualties and 4 infants, transporting them safely to Colombo. Among those rescued were 12 Indian nationals and a large group of foreign nationals from multiple countries, alongside Sri Lankan citizens.
To strengthen relief operations on the ground, the IAF also airlifted 57 Sri Lankan Army personnel into the affected zone to support ongoing rescue and clearance efforts.
IAF also inducted Bhishm capsule and Medical team while air lifting more than 400 Indian Nationals back to India till 8 pm. More sorties are planned.
The operation also included a hybrid rescue effort in which Garud commandos were air-inserted into inaccessible zones to reach trapped civilians, who were then moved to designated landing points for helicopter evacuation.
The IAF successfully evacuated 55 civilians, including Sri Lankans, Indians, and foreign nationals, and brought them safely to Colombo. In a tragic development, the operation also recovered six deceased persons, among them four children. Two Indian helicopters have been operating round-the-clock, completing more than a dozen rescue sorties so far. The IAF has confirmed that the relief and rescue efforts will continue on Tuesday, with additional missions planned based on weather and operational conditions.
Indian nationals still stranded in Sri Lanka can reach out to the Emergency Help Desk set up by the Indian High Commission at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport. Assistance is also available via 94 773727832, which is operational on WhatsApp as well.
