This is the situation on the ground: Cyclone Ditwah hit hard. At least 123 people are confirmed dead as of Saturday morning (Nov 29). And 130 people are still missing. Here’s the kicker: relief officials in Kandy are warning that the official toll is way low—it’s likely much higher.
Also read: No Samsungs, Only iPhones: Why London Phone Thieves Have Their Priorities Set
Meanwhile, India is moving. Operation Sagar Bandhu was launched late Friday. It happened. And then the massive air transport followed.
-
The Air Bridge: The Indian Air Force scrambled a C-130 and an IL-76 from Hindon. These planes delivered 21 tonnes of relief material and more than 80 NDRF personnel—the boots-on-the-ground rescue teams—plus eight tonnes of specialized equipment. This landed in Colombo around 1:30 a.m. Saturday.
-
The Naval Tranche: This follows the first delivery of essential rations already transported by the Navy’s heavy-hitters: INS Vikrant and INS Udaigiri.
This is not a small gesture. India is sending the message loud and clear: “Neighbourhood First.”
The Crisis on the Island
-
The Damage: More than 200,000 people from 61,000 families are affected. Landslides are ripping through districts like Badulla.
-
The Utilities: Nearly 35% of the island is without power since Friday. That’s about 7 million Ceylon Electricity Board customers in the dark. Restoration work is essentially stalled by the relentless rains.
-
The Threat: All major reservoirs are spilling. Authorities are warning people to evacuate the riverbanks. The weather bureau says more than 200 mm of rain is still expected before Ditwah moves out.
The cyclone left a trail of destruction—damage to infrastructure, roads cut off, and the Kelani River levels spiking to dangerous highs. It’s one of Sri Lanka’s worst-ever disasters, and the full extent is still unfolding.
Also read: No Samsungs, Only iPhones: Why London Phone Thieves Have Their Priorities Set
