India launches ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’, rushes aid to Sri Lanka as Cyclone Ditwah leaves at least 153 dead

An Indian Air Force C130 J aircraft carrying emergency supplies — food essentials and sanitary items—landed at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport around 1:30 am, where it was received by officials from the Indian High Commission and the Sri Lanka Air Force.

The assistance comes as Sri Lankan authorities warned of an “unprecedented disaster situation” in the Western Province from Friday night, with water levels in the Kelani and Attanagalu rivers rising dangerously.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also took to X to acknowledge the beginning of the operation. “#OperationSagarBandhu unfolds. @IAF_MCC C-130 J plane carrying approx 12 tons of humanitarian aid including tents, tarpaulins, blankets, hygiene kits, and ready-to-eat food items lands in Colombo,” he wrote.

#OperationSagarBandhu unfolds. @IAF_MCC C-130 J plane carrying approx 12 tons of humanitarian aid including tents, tarpaulins, blankets, hygiene kits, and ready-to-eat food items lands in Colombo.

🇮🇳 🇱🇰 pic.twitter.com/btzlnZeO8x

— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) November 29, 2025

According to the Disaster Management Centre (DMC), 69 deaths had been confirmed by 6 am on Saturday, while at least 34 people were still missing. More than 200,000 people from 61,000 families have been affected.

However, officials handling relief in Kandy in the Central Province said the real toll could be much higher, noting that deaths in the Kandy district alone had risen to more than 50 by late Friday night, though these numbers had not yet been officially verified.

Badulla, in the central hills, has also been devastated by landslides, with many people missing and over 35 confirmed dead.

Around 35 per cent of the island has been without electricity since early Friday, leaving about seven million Ceylon Electricity Board customers affected.

A consignment of Indian humanitarian aid being sent to cyclone-hit Sri Lanka as part of ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’. (@DrSJaishankar/X)

Efforts to restore power and carry out other repairs continue to be hampered by relentless rain and ongoing flooding.

In view of conditions worsening, the Sri Lankan government had announced closure of all government offices and schools on Friday.

Cyclone Ditwah update

The approaching Cyclone Ditwah has put the coastal regions of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh on high alert. Several districts are now under Red and Orange warnings because of the expected heavy rain, powerful winds, and potential flooding.

The cyclone is predicted to hit the Indian coastline on Sunday, November 30.

The weather department said cyclonic storm Ditwah has moved from Sri Lanka and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal to north-northwestwards with a speed of 7 kmph last night. “It is very likely to continue to move north-northwestwards across coastal Sri Lanka and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal and reach over southwest Bay of Bengal near North Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and adjoining south Andhra Pradesh coasts by early morning of November 30,” the IMD said.

(With PTI and Reuters inputs)