India dispatches rescue teams, relief supplies to quake-hit Myanmar

New Delhi, Mar 29: As Myanmar reels from death and destruction caused by a massive earthquake, India mounted a multi-agency relief mission on Saturday, delivering 15 tonnes of essential materials and dispatching more aid by air and sea, along with rescue teams, to the neighbouring country.

In a reflection of New Delhi's strong commitment to extend help, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke with Myanmar's Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and said India stands in solidarity with the people of that country.

India, which named its relief mission for Myanmar as "Operation Brahma", became the first country to bring rescue personnel to the capital city of Nay-Pyi-Taw to help local authorities, according to officials.

Hours after New Delhi delivered 15 tonnes of essential relief materials to Yangon in a military transport aircraft, two C130J planes of the Indian Air Force (IAF) landed in Nay-Pyi-Taw, carrying a total of 80 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel and some more aid.

Two more C17 military aircraft of the IAF, carrying 60 para-field ambulances, will land in Myanmar shortly, the officials said.

India deployed the NDRF abroad on two previous occasions -- during the 2015 Nepal earthquake and the 2023 Turkiye quake.

The total aid sent by air sorties and naval ships amounts to 137 tonnes, sources said, adding that more supplies will be sent in accordance with the requirement.

"Conveyed our deep condolences at the loss of lives in the devastating earthquake. As a close friend and neighbour, India stands in solidarity with the people of Myanmar in this difficult hour," the prime minister said on X after his phone conversation with the senior military general.

"Disaster relief material, humanitarian assistance, search and rescue teams are being expeditiously dispatched to the affected areas as part of #OperationBrahma," he said.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said Indian naval ships INS Satpura and INS Savitri are carrying 40 tonnes of humanitarian aid and headed for the port of Yangon.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a briefing here that two more Indian naval ships would follow under this humanitarian assistance operation.

Jaishankar said a 118-member Indian Army Field Hospital unit is also en route to Mandalay from Agra to assist in providing first aid and emergency medical services to the people of Myanmar.

In the morning, India delivered 15 tonnes of relief materials to the Myanmarese city of Yangon after a C130J military aircraft of the IAF transported the consignments to the Myanmarese city.

The supplies included tents, sleeping bags, blankets, ready-to-eat meals, water purifiers, solar lamps, generator sets and essential medicines, the officials said.

"#OperationBrahma gets underway. First tranche of humanitarian aid from India has reached the Yangon Airport in Myanmar," Jaishankar said in a post on X after India dispatched the first consignments of relief supplies.

The relief materials were handed over to Chief Minister of Yangon U Soe Thein by Indian envoy to Myanmar Abhay Thakur.

The powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake rocked Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand on Friday, destroying buildings, bridges and other infrastructures.

Myanmar's military-led government said on Saturday that the death toll has climbed to 1,644. The number of injured is 3,408, while 139 people are missing after the quake.

India has acted as a "First Responder" to assist the people of Myanmar, Jaiswal said.

"Brahma is the god of creation. At a time when we are extending a helping hand to the government of Myanmar, to the people of Myanmar to rebuild their country in the wake of the devastation, this particular name of the operation has a special resonance, a special meaning," he told reporters.

Commandant P K Tiwary of the 8th NDRF battalion based in Ghaziabad, near Delhi, is leading the USAR (Urban Search And Rescue) team.

The team has also taken along rescue dogs for the collapsed structure search and rescue operation being undertaken in accordance with the International Search and Rescue Advisory Group (INSARAG) norms, an official said.

Indian officials in Delhi said the first C130 plane landed in Nay-Pyi-Taw in the evening and the NDRF team was received by the Indian ambassador and Maung Maung Lynn, Ambassador-at-large, in the Myanmar foreign ministry.

India is the first country to bring rescue personnel to Nay-Pyi-Taw, they said, adding that the airport at the capital city is still not fully functional after the earthquake.

The NDRF team will proceed to Mandalay early morning of Sunday and will be the first rescue team to reach there for rescue operations, they said.

The Indian embassy in Myanmar said it is coordinating speedy delivery of assistance and relief supplies from India with Myanmar.

"We are also in constant touch with Indian community. Reiterate our emergency number for needy Indian nationals: 95-95419602," it said in a post on X.

India shares a 1,643-kilometre border with Myanmar on the eastern side.