Sri Lanka Devastated by Floods; India Rushes Aid Under ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’
London-UK, November 30, 2025
CYCLONE DITWAH FLOODING KILLS 69 IN SRI LANKA; INDIA LAUNCHES MASSIVE AID OPERATION: SOUTH ASIA FACES CLIMATE-DRIVEN DISASTER
The island nation of Sri Lanka is battling a severe national disaster, as torrential rainfall and surging floodwaters, a devastating consequence of Cyclone Ditwah, have caused catastrophic damage across wide swathes of the country.
The official Death Toll has tragically reached 69, with the continuous deluge leading to widespread landslides, mass displacement, and the complete destruction of essential infrastructure in many areas.
With over 18,000 citizens forced to evacuate their homes and take shelter in temporary camps, the humanitarian crisis is rapidly escalating.
In a swift, commendable display of regional solidarity, India has launched a massive and coordinated relief effort titled ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’ (Friendship in the Ocean), immediately rushing essential supplies, rescue personnel, and medical teams to the affected zones.
The natural disaster serves as another brutal reminder of South Asia’s vulnerability to extreme weather events, which are increasing in frequency and intensity due to the undeniable pressures of global climate change.
Headline Points: The Cyclone Ditwah Crisis
Catastrophic Rainfall:
Cyclone Ditwah has triggered unprecedented rainfall across Sri Lanka, leading to major river flooding, flash floods, and destructive landslides in mountainous regions, overwhelming the country’s drainage systems.
Humanitarian Toll:
69 deaths have been confirmed, with thousands of families losing their homes and livelihoods, necessitating a massive national and international relief effort to provide basic necessities.
India’s Response:
New Delhi initiated ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu,’ deploying naval vessels, heavy-lift aircraft, and rapid-response disaster relief teams with critical aid, including food, medicine, and water purification units.
Climate Change Wake-Up Call:
The severity of the cyclone and its aftermath is being highlighted by climate experts as a clear and urgent example of the worsening impact of global climate change on vulnerable tropical island nations and low-lying coastal areas.
The capital, Colombo, and the surrounding Western and Southern Provinces have been particularly hard-hit, with major roads, key bridges, and rail lines completely submerged, effectively cutting off vital supply routes to the rest of the country.
The Sri Lankan government has declared a state of emergency in the worst-affected districts, ordering the closure of schools and non-essential offices to facilitate rescue and evacuation operations.
The primary threats facing the population are now the immediate risk of waterborne diseases like cholera and dengue fever, the critical lack of clean drinking water, and the immense logistical task of providing immediate shelter and food security for the tens of thousands of displaced individuals.
The sheer volume of water has made traditional land-based rescue operations incredibly difficult and hazardous, requiring the deployment of military and naval assets for air and water evacuations.
The response from India, under the banner of ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu,’ has been instantaneous and robust.
Prime Minister Modi’s government dispatched multiple naval ships carrying several tonnes of relief materials, including emergency rations, blankets, temporary shelter kits, and essential medical kits, along with dedicated teams of disaster relief personnel trained in complex search and rescue operations in flood conditions.
This rapid regional cooperation underscores the strong diplomatic and strategic ties between the two South Asian neighbours, often referred to as the ‘pearl of the Indian Ocean’ and the regional giant.
For the CJ Global newspaper, this event highlights the crucial role of international and regional partnerships in managing large-scale disasters, where a unified, quick, and resource-heavy response can significantly mitigate the loss of life and suffering.
However, the immediate crisis management is only the first phase of what is anticipated to be a protracted period of recovery and reconstruction. The damage to agricultural lands, particularly the vital rice paddies and tea plantations that form the backbone of Sri Lanka’s economy, is significant, and the long-term impact on national food security is a growing concern that requires urgent attention.
The infrastructure damage—including washed-away bridges, compromised water treatment facilities, and damaged power grids—will take months, if not years, to fully repair, placing a massive burden on the country’s already strained finances.
International aid agencies, including those from the UK, are mobilising resources to support the Sri Lankan government’s relief efforts, focusing on long-term sustainability and climate-proofing infrastructure.
This catastrophe is a stark, urgent reminder that climate-resilience must be a central feature of national development planning, especially for island nations situated on major cyclone paths.
The focus now is entirely on saving lives, providing for the immediate needs of the thousands who have lost everything, and coordinating the international response to begin the arduous process of rebuilding a resilient nation.
