India Deploys INS Vikrant Helicopters for Sri Lanka Rescue Operations
Colombo: Sri Lanka is reeling from catastrophic flooding and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah, which has already claimed at least 56 lives as of Friday morning, with dozens more feared missing as the storm pushes northward toward Tamil Nadu.
Days of torrential rains and ferocious winds have inundated large swathes of the country, bringing unprecedented water levels and inflicting severe damage across 20 of Sri Lanka’s 25 districts. Officials estimate that more than 12,000 families — around 43,000 people — have been directly affected, with mass evacuations underway.
Cyclone Ditwah swept across Sri Lanka leaving 46 dead and prompting air force rescues from rooftops as floodwaters inundated homes and schools closed across the island https://t.co/Ui4YMp4hgq pic.twitter.com/B45VxhiOAg
— Reuters (@Reuters) November 28, 2025
Responding to Sri Lanka’s call for assistance, India has moved swiftly: helicopters from INS Vikrant, currently positioned in Colombo, have been committed to rescue missions and relief deployment as conditions worsen.
The eastern districts of Ampara, Batticaloa and Trincomalee — along with the highland areas of Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Matale and Badulla — are among the worst hit. Many tea and rubber estate communities, particularly Hill Country Malaiyaha Tamil populations, remain submerged and cut off, with landslides blocking road access and entire neighborhoods marooned.
Videos and eyewitness reports show vehicles engulfed by floodwaters, people trapped on rooftops, and families stranded overnight as emergency responders battle to reach them. With rivers overflowing and reservoirs nearing maximum capacity, authorities have also issued new flood warnings for southern regions.
#OperationSagarBandhu is underway, delivering urgent HADR support to Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah.
India extends urgent HADR support to Sri Lanka in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah. India has provided 4.5 tons of dry rations, 2 tons of fresh rations, and other essential relief… pic.twitter.com/sdDRpw5ILz
— India in Sri Lanka (@IndiainSL) November 28, 2025
Schools, offices closed as nation shifts into crisis mode
With the emergency deepening, the government has shut schools and declared Friday a public holiday for government institutions, excluding emergency and essential services.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake convened an all-party crisis discussion on Thursday, urging politicians to prioritize immediate relief, assist affected citizens on the ground, and avoid political confrontation in the midst of national disaster. The President’s Fund has announced a compensation package of LKR 1 million (approximately ₹2.9 lakh) for the families of the deceased.
Authorities also directed the tourism sector to ensure foreign visitors are supported and have access to essential services as travel disruptions escalate. Aviation officials confirmed flight delays and diversions due to deteriorating weather and visibility.
India has dispatched helicopters from INS Vikrant, currently docked in Colombo, to aid Sri Lanka’s ongoing rescue and relief operations as Cyclone Ditwah continues to hammer the country with severe weather.
Sri Lankan Defence Ministry Secretary Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha confirmed that Colombo formally sought India’s assistance — specifically the deployment of aircraft from the carrier — to bolster the humanitarian response.
He said the request was routed to the Indian High Commission in Colombo earlier in the day, following which coordination for support was swiftly initiated.
