- Topic: Disaster Management / International Relations / India’s Neighbourhood Policy
- Beneficiary Country: Sri Lanka
- Trigger Event: Cyclone Ditwah (November-December 2025)
- Launch Date: November 28, 2025
1. Operation Overview
- Objective: To provide urgent Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) to Sri Lanka following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.
- Context: Cyclone Ditwah caused severe flooding, landslides, and infrastructure collapse across Sri Lanka, particularly affecting the Northern, Eastern, and Central provinces.
- Significance: India was the “First Responder,” launching the operation within hours of the crisis, reinforcing its role as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).
2. Operational Assets & Agencies Involved
This was a multi-agency mission involving the Army, Navy, Air Force, and NDRF.
- Indian Navy:
- Ships Deployed: INS Vikrant (Aircraft Carrier) and INS Udaygiri (Frigate) were diverted from a fleet review to deliver immediate aid. Later, INS Gharial and Landing Craft Utilities (LCUs) transported heavy relief material.
- Helicopters: Chetak and Seaking helicopters conducted search and rescue (SAR) for stranded civilians.
- Indian Air Force (IAF):
- Aircraft: C-130J Super Hercules, IL-76, and C-17 Globemaster aircraft created an “air bridge” to ferry supplies.
- Rotary Wing: Mi-17 helicopters were used for airlifting pregnant women and critically injured patients from inaccessible areas.
- Indian Army:
- Engineering Support: An Engineer Task Force (ETF) was airlifted to construct Bailey Bridges to restore road connectivity in landslide-hit areas (e.g., Kilinochchi).
- Medical Aid: A fully functional field hospital was established to treat flood victims.
- NDRF: Specialised teams were deployed for urban search and rescue in collapsed structures.
3. Key Aid Delivered
- Supplies: Over 1,000 tons of relief material, including dry rations, medicines, tents, and hygiene kits.
- Infrastructure: Restoration of critical bridges and roads by Army engineers.
- Evacuation: Rescue of over 2,000 stranded individuals, including foreign nationals.
4. Strategic Concepts for Exams
| Concept | Context in Operation |
| Vision MAHASAGAR | (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) – The guiding principle behind India’s maritime cooperation and aid to Indian Ocean neighbors. |
| Neighbourhood First | India’s foreign policy priority to assist immediate neighbors like Sri Lanka before others in times of crisis. |
| HADR Diplomacy | India’s foreign policy priority is to assist immediate neighbours like Sri Lanka before others in times of crisis. |
5. Potential Exam Questions
- Operation Sagar Bandhu was launched by India to assist which country?
- (Answer: Sri Lanka)
- The operation was a response to which tropical cyclone?
- (Answer: Cyclone Ditwah)
- Which Indian aircraft carrier participated in the initial phase of Operation Sagar Bandhu?
- (Answer: INS Vikrant)