India, Nov 30 : On Saturday announced that teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been deployed to Sri Lanka to support rescue and relief operations under Operation Sagar Bandhu, as the island nation battles severe flooding and widespread disruption caused by relentless heavy rainfall.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed the deployment through a post by its spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, who shared visuals of Indian personnel assisting stranded residents in affected regions.
In a message on X, Jaiswal wrote: “#OperationSagarBandhu. National Disaster Response Force personnel @NDRFHQ in action in Sri Lanka. Helping with rescue and relief efforts to evacuate stranded people.” The images showed NDRF teams reaching inundated areas, ferrying people to safer locations and coordinating closely with local authorities.
According to the MEA, the NDRF’s on-ground work is part of India’s broader humanitarian assistance initiative aimed at supporting evacuation efforts and providing immediate relief to those impacted by the crisis. The ministry noted that Indian teams are working alongside Sri Lankan agencies to access vulnerable pockets, move citizens to safety, and deliver essential emergency aid.
Describing the mission as a reflection of India’s steadfast commitment to helping neighbouring countries during crises, Jaiswal underscored that the assistance is being extended in response to Sri Lanka’s specific requirements and builds on the long-standing disaster-relief cooperation between the two nations.
Operation Sagar Bandhu marks yet another instance of India deploying specialised disaster-response teams to assist Sri Lanka during severe weather-related emergencies. The focus of the current effort is to bolster urgent rescue measures, support local administration, and ensure that personnel on the ground are equipped to manage rapidly evolving needs.
As heavy rains continue to lash parts of Sri Lanka, India’s coordinated response underscores its readiness to contribute resources, expertise and manpower to help mitigate the humanitarian impact of the ongoing flooding.