India sends 80 NDRF personnel, relief supplies to quake-hit Myanmar
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New Delhi: India has launched ‘Operation Brahma’ to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to Myanmar following the devastating earthquake that struck the country and neighboring Thailand on Friday.
A contingent of 80 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel has been deployed for relief and rescue operations in Myanmar. Equipped with specialized quake-rescue tools, the team is led by a Commandant-rank officer and is expected to arrive by Saturday evening. This marks the third instance of India deploying the NDRF abroad, following previous missions during the 2015 Nepal earthquake and the 2023 Turkiye quake.
Additionally, India has dispatched 15 tonnes of relief material to the Myanmarese city of Yangon on a C130J military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF). The supplies include tents, sleeping bags, blankets, ready-to-eat meals, water purifiers, solar lamps, generator sets, and essential medicines. Two more IAF aircraft loaded with additional relief supplies are set to depart from Hindon Air Force Station soon.
Myanmar and Thailand were rocked by a high-intensity earthquake on Friday, causing widespread destruction of buildings, bridges, and infrastructure. The disaster has reportedly claimed at least 1,002 lives in Myanmar.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar confirmed the relief effort, stating on ‘X’ that “#OperationBrahma gets underway. First tranche of humanitarian aid from India has reached Yangon Airport in Myanmar.” The relief materials were officially handed over to Yangon Chief Minister U Soe Thein by Indian Ambassador to Myanmar Abhay Thakur.
The Indian Embassy in Myanmar is actively coordinating the delivery of assistance and remains in touch with the Indian community in the region. The embassy has also issued an emergency contact number for Indian nationals requiring support: +95-95419602.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed concern over the devastation, affirming that India stands ready to extend all possible assistance to Myanmar and Thailand. “Concerned by the situation in the wake of the earthquake in Myanmar and Thailand. Praying for the safety and well-being of everyone,” Modi posted on ‘X’. He further instructed authorities to remain on standby and directed the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to stay in close contact with the governments of Myanmar and Thailand.
India shares a 1,643-km-long border with Myanmar and has a history of acting as a “First Responder” in regional crises. The relief mission underscores India’s commitment to extending timely humanitarian aid to its neighbors.
With PTI inputs