IAF Evacuates 400 Indians From Lanka as Cyclone Weakens in Tamil Nadu
Among those rescued were 12 Indians and a large number of foreigners from multiple countries, in addition to Sri Lankans, it said
NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force (IAF), in coordination with Sri Lankan authorities, evacuated 400 Indians stranded from landslide-hit Kotmale region in the cyclone-hit neighbouring country as it remains completely cut off due to road disruptions. “Throughout the day, IAF helicopters evacuated 45 stranded individuals, including six critical casualties and four infants, transporting them safely to Colombo,” the IAF said in a statement.
Among those rescued were 12 Indians and a large number of foreigners from multiple countries, in addition to Sri Lankans, it said. The IAF further stated that it had inducted Bhishm capsules and a medical team while airlifting more than 400 Indian nationals back to India by 8 pm. Additional sorties are planned, it added. To ramp up humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka under Operation Sagar Bandhu, the IAF has deployed another C-130J transport aircraft and positioned Mi-17 V5 helicopters in Colombo for swift relief operations.
Meanwhile, the cyclone weakened into a deep depression and the weather system would be centred over southwest Bay of Bengal within a minimum distance of 30 km from the coasts of North Tamil Nadu and Puducherry by midnight of Sunday, the Regional Meteorological Centre said.
southeast of Puducherry, 170 km northeast of Vedaranniyam and 150 km southeast of Chennai.
“The minimum distance of the centre of the cyclone from north Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts is about 80 km. It is very likely to move nearly northwards parallel to North Tamil Nadu-Puducherry coasts and weaken into a deep depression during the next 3 hours.” the bulletin issued by the Met office said on Sunday evening said.
According to officials, the C-130J aircraft, carrying equipment for the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team deployed under Operation Sagar Bandhu, landed in Colombo on Sunday. In an update on X on Sunday, the IAF said: “#OperationSagarBandhu | IAF Humanitarian Assistance. As part of India’s ongoing relief efforts in Sri Lanka, the Indian Air Force has positioned Mi-17 V5 helicopters in Colombo for swift HADR operations.”
The post added that the IAF’s transport aircraft are earmarked for “large-scale evacuation” of Indian nationals, with “multiple missions” planned from Trivandrum in Kerala and Hindon in Uttar Pradesh. INS Sukanya, carrying additional humanitarian aid, left Visakhapatnam on Saturday and is expected to reach Sri Lanka soon, a senior official said. Two Chetak helicopters from the Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier INS Vikrant are also assisting in search and rescue operations, with Sri Lanka Air Force personnel onboard.
According to an update from Sri Lanka’s Disaster Management Centre, the death toll from Cyclone Ditwah has risen to 333 over the past four days, and widespread destruction of infrastructure. Under Operation Sagar Bandhu, the first tranche of relief materials was handed over after being transported by INS Vikrant and the frontline ship INS Udaygiri.
Sri Lankan authorities reported that more than 43,900 people from 12,313 families have been affected by the extreme weather conditions.
The Indian High Commission in Colombo is assisting stranded Indian passengers at the Bandaranaike International Airport by providing food, water and other support amid severe air traffic disruptions, officials said.
Separately, for relief efforts in Tamil Nadu, a C-17 transport aircraft carried an NDRF team and equipment from Pune to Chennai on the night of November 29, they added.