Rapid Fire
Operation Sagar Bandhu
- 29 Nov 2025
- 2 min read
India has initiated Operation Sagar Bandhu to deliver humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah triggered massive floods and landslides.
- Cyclone Ditwah is a tropical storm that rapidly formed over the southwest Bay of Bengal.
- The name Ditwah was contributed by Yemen, following the regional naming system for North Indian Ocean cyclones.
- Operation Sagar Bandhu: India rushed relief using INS Vikrant, INS Udaigiri, and an IAF C-130J carrying tents, blankets, food, hygiene kits, and tarpaulins.
- India has consistently acted as a first responder in the Indian Ocean region, especially for Sri Lanka, extending support during the MV XPress Pearl ship-fire disaster in 2021 and providing assistance during Cyclone Roanu (2016).
- The mission aligns with India’s Neighbourhood First policy and Vision MAHASAGAR, reinforcing India’s role as a reliable first responder in the Indian Ocean region.
- India and HADR: India has positioned itself as a global first responder in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), delivering swift support during major international crises through missions like Operation Maitri in Nepal, Operation Samudra Maitri in Indonesia, and Operation Dost in Türkiye and Syria.
- Its leadership is further reinforced through bilateral and regional HADR exercises such as PANEX-21 with BIMSTEC nations and Samanvay-22 with ASEAN countries, strengthening preparedness, coordination, and regional disaster response capacity.
| Read more: India-Sri Lanka Relations |
