New Delhi, Dec 12 – Sri Lankans are voicing deep thanks to the Indian Army and the Indian government for the lifesaving aid that followed Cyclone Ditwah’s devastating floods.
Camps and schools were knocked flat and roads swallowed by large waves, leaving many communities cut off. “The Indian Army and the Indian government have given us tremendous help. Our village was badly damaged, and even the road our children used to take to school was washed away. In this difficult time, they stepped forward and helped us in every possible way,” a villager said, thanking India on behalf of the entire village.
Under Operation Sagar Bandhu, the Army opened an on‑field hospital in one of the hardest‑hit areas, sending urgently needed medical care to thousands. Though roads had been washed out and bridges collapsed, the team trekked from Colombo for 18 hours to get to the disaster zone. With nothing built, they turned an empty parking lot into a modern medical centre, running on portable generators and a newly‑recreated communications hub.
Lt Col Jagneet Gill, in charge of the team, highlighted the joint effort with Sri Lankan authorities and stressed the shared commitment to humanitarian help. Engineers and medical teams laboured into the night to erect shelters, operating theatres with HVAC‑equipped tents, and bring advanced diagnostics on site.
Surveillance drones provided aerial mapping, speeding up plans and allowing safer patient movement across flooded terrain. As the field hospital grew, it became a full‑service medical hub offering surgery, orthopaedics, dental care, X‑rays and multiple outpatient services.
Meanwhile, the Indian Army’s Engineer Task Force worked on critical infrastructure: de‑bridging damaged roads, dropping Bailey bridge sections, and restoring essential connections. By re‑establishing communication lines, providing clean water, and rebuilding key roads, they became a vital lifeline for the affected Sri Lankans.
These ongoing operations underscore India’s Neighbourhood First policy and the enduring friendship between the two nations.
sas/uk
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