High Commission of India
Colombo

PRESS RELEASE

India’s Relentless Relief and Rescue Efforts Continue across the Island under Operation Sagar Bandhu

1. India continues its unwavering humanitarian support to Sri Lanka under Operation Sagar Bandhu, with intensive search, rescue, medical, and logistics operations underway across multiple affected regions.

2.   2. On December 02, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams continued high-risk recovery and life-saving operations in Sedawatta, and Nadeegama, under risky water conditions. They rescued 52 stranded people at this site. With water levels at 8–10 feet with strong currents, rescue teams continued operating in extremely hazardous conditions to evacuate the most vulnerable and ensure every life is brought to safety. In Passara, Badulla, NDRF team is working through dense, compacted debris in the flood-affected zones, and search and rescue efforts remain ongoing. Working in close coordination with the Sri Lankan armed forces, NDRF teams continue to rescue stranded civilians and provide urgent relief to affected communities.
   
   
3. 3. As part of the ongoing relief mission, IAF aircraft IFC 1875 delivered 1.9 tonnes of supplies from Colombo and 2.7 tonnes from Badulla to Kotmale, while also airlifting critical patients to Colombo for urgent treatment. This was followed by IFC 1885, which transported another 2 tonnes of relief material from Katunayake to Kotmale. Additional sorties are planned to ensure uninterrupted delivery of essential assistance, as coordinated by the Sri Lankan authorities. The helicopters also evacuated 3 critically ill persons to save locations for urgent treatment.
   
   
4. 4. Following requests from the Sri Lankan Government, India airlifted a movable modularBailey Bridge system to Sri Lanka to restore urgent connectivity in disaster-hit areas. The massive structure was transported by a C-17 Globemaster aircraft of the Indian Air Force and can be installed within a few hours to replace damaged bridges, significantly strengthening relief access and mobility for emergency services, in landslide and flood-hit areas. C-17 also brought in 500 water purification systems as requested by the Sri Lankan authorities. It also included 22 personnel, including expert engineers for setting up of the Bailey Bridge systems as well as a medical team of doctors to assist in the field hospital which had arrived from India on 02.12.2025.
   
   
5.  5. With relief assets, specialized teams, and critical infrastructure support kept on constant standby, India continues to respond to every requirement and request from Sri Lanka with speed and sensitivity. India stands resolutely with Sri Lanka during this critical time.

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Colombo
04 December 2025