Mon Dec 01 05:41:46 UTC 2025: ## India Completes Evacuation, Ramps Up Aid as Cyclone Ditwah Devastates Sri Lanka

Colombo – The Indian Air Force (IAF) concluded its evacuation of stranded Indian nationals from Sri Lanka on Monday, December 1st, while significantly increasing humanitarian aid to the island nation reeling from the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah.

Under “Operation Sagar Bandhu,” the final group of 104 Indian citizens arrived in Thiruvananthapuram at 6:30 AM aboard an IAF aircraft, according to the Indian High Commission. India’s support now focuses on assisting Sri Lankan authorities with rescue and relief efforts across multiple affected regions.

INS Vikrant Chetak helicopters are actively airlifting people from danger zones, while IAF helicopters are conducting search and rescue operations in areas like Kotmale, Nuwara Eliya, which have been cut off due to landslides.

National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams, specialists in search and rescue and humanitarian aid, are on the ground. After initial operations in Kochikade, they are now deploying to Puttalam and Badulla, providing aid and ensuring the safety of families impacted by the severe flooding.

Tragedy struck the Sri Lankan Air Force as a pilot died in a Bell 212 helicopter crash during relief delivery in Wennappuwa. The pilot, in an attempt to avoid civilian casualties, was steering the aircraft away from crowds when the crash occurred. Five other Air Force personnel are in critical condition. The Sri Lankan Navy also reported the deaths of five sailors who went missing during rescue operations in Chundikulam.

Cyclone Ditwah has unleashed widespread flooding, landslides, and infrastructure collapse across Sri Lanka, isolating numerous districts and severely impacting the nation’s disaster response capabilities. As of Sunday, the storm has claimed 334 lives with 370 still missing.

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