India Rallies to Support Cyclone-Hit Sri Lanka with Humanitarian Aid
Humanitarian Efforts in Response to Cyclone Ditwah
Colombo: In a significant humanitarian gesture, India has dispatched a movable modular bridge system along with hundreds of water purification units to assist Sri Lanka, which has been severely affected by Cyclone Ditwah. This initiative aims to reconnect isolated communities and restore vital services across the island, as reported by the Indian mission on Thursday.
Sri Lanka is currently facing extensive flooding, landslides, and a collapse of infrastructure due to the cyclone, which has left numerous districts cut off and overwhelmed the country's disaster response capabilities.
As of Wednesday evening, the death toll has reached at least 479, with 350 individuals reported missing due to the devastating floods and landslides that have occurred since November 16.
A C-17 Globemaster transport aircraft from the Indian Air Force delivered the Bailey Bridge system and 500 water purification units on Wednesday, following a request from the Sri Lankan government, according to a statement from the Indian High Commission.
The bridge system can be set up in just a few hours, providing a crucial replacement for damaged bridges and enhancing access for emergency services in areas impacted by landslides and flooding.
The flight also included 22 personnel, comprising expert engineers for bridge installation and a medical team to support the previously deployed field hospital.
In a recent social media update, the mission highlighted ongoing disaster management collaboration between India and Sri Lanka, which has also extended into the digital realm.
During a virtual meeting on Wednesday, Bhaskar Katamneni, Secretary of Real Time Governance in Andhra Pradesh, presented a 'digital toolkit' that showcases best practices in disaster preparedness and response to Hans Wijayasuriya, Chief Advisor to the Sri Lankan President on Digital Economy, along with the GovTech team.
India's humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka is part of Operation Sagar Bandhu, which encompasses extensive air, sea, and ground operations aimed at delivering urgent relief to those affected.
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake expressed gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for India's unwavering support in a social media post on Wednesday.
Officials in Sri Lanka have indicated that the humanitarian crisis is worsening.
As of Wednesday night, over 1.6 million individuals from more than 455,000 families have been stranded, according to Jayathissa Munasinghe, Assistant Secretary of the National Disaster Relief Services Centre (NDRSC).
The government has established 1,347 relief centers, providing shelter to over 188,000 people.
According to Bandula Herath, Director General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC), approximately 75% of mobile coverage has been restored.
While none of the island's 9,332 communication towers were damaged, 16,926 distribution points remain affected due to a lack of electricity and fuel for generators.
Authorities have reported that the number of accidental deaths among relief workers has risen to eight.
A 41-year-old employee of the electricity board died from electrocution while working on restoration efforts. Earlier, a Sri Lankan Air Force pilot lost his life during an airdrop mission, and five Navy personnel along with a Road Development Authority worker also perished during rescue operations.
Officials estimate the total economic loss from the cyclone to be between USD 6 billion and 7 billion, which represents approximately 3-5% of Sri Lanka's GDP.