IAF rescues foreigners, Sri Lankans
New Delhi, Nov 30: India has intensified its rescue mission in cyclone-hit Sri Lanka, airlifting stranded civilians and tourists, including foreign nationals from Germany, South Africa, Slovenia and the United Kingdom, as part of Operation Sagar Bandhu.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are leading joint operations in areas cut off by floods and landslides.
A key highlight was the evacuation using IAF Mi-17 helicopters. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in a message on X stated: “Together in times of need…As part of India’s ongoing #OperationSagarBandhu, the Mi-17 helicopters of @IAF_MCC evacuated stranded people in Sri Lanka, including citizens from Germany, South Africa, Slovenia and the United Kingdom.”
In a detailed account of a complex mission, the IAF added: “IAF helicopters undertook a hybrid rescue mission to extricate stranded passengers from a restricted zone. A Garud commando was winched down to guide the group through cross-country route to a pre-briefed helipad at Kotmale, from where 24 passengers — including Indians, foreign nationals and Sri Lankans — were evacuated to Colombo. In a parallel effort, three critical casualties were airlifted to Colombo for immediate medical attention. Earlier, five teams of Sri Lankan Army personnel (40 troops) were airlifted from Diyathalawa Army Camp to the landslide-affected Kotmale region to support relief operations.”
NDRF teams are actively assisting on the ground. “@NDRFHQ in action in Sri Lanka. Helping with rescue and relief efforts to evacuate stranded people,” the force posted, as coordination with local authorities continues to expand into remote zones. According to PTI, Sri Lanka has ramped up relief efforts with India’s support. The Disaster Management Centre (DMC) reported 193 deaths, with 228 people missing. More than 9.6 lakh people from 2,66,114 families have been affected by Cyclone Ditwah since Thursday.
Sri Lanka is still facing extreme flooding, mudslides and infrastructure collapse. With fresh rainfall forecast, disaster management teams fear new landslide risks and shortages of essential supplies. Damage to transport, agriculture and water systems has intensified concerns over a longer humanitarian crisis. India’s rapid mobilisation of air, naval and ground assets has been crucial in stabilising operations. With foreign nationals now among those rescued, Operation Sagar Bandhu has taken on a wider international dimension, as evacuation and relief missions continue across affected districts.
