As part of Operation Sagar Bandhu, the Indian Army’s Engineer Task Force is working relentlessly to restore the B-492 road, which connects Kandy in the Central Province with Badulla in Sri Lanka’s Uva Province, after it was severely affected by Cyclone Ditwah.
In a video posted by the Indian Army on X, a schoolgirl expressed her gratitude, saying, “We are really grateful for the service you have done for us, especially for coming all the way from India. Due to the damaged bridge, we had no way of crossing to this side. We are so thankful to all of you for coming and helping us. Thank you very much for the assistance you have provided.”
Sharing the video and images, the Army said, “The Indian Army’s Engineer Task Force is relentlessly restoring critical road connectivity on the vital B-492, linking Kandy in the Central Province with Badulla in the Uva Province of Sri Lanka, which was severely affected by Cyclone Ditwah.”
“Through the swift construction of Bailey bridges at KM 15 and KM 21, the Task Force has reconnected communities, reduced travel time and strengthened bonds with the people of Sri Lanka,” it added.
India launched Operation Sagar Bandhu in November last year as the first responder in the immediate aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah to provide urgent humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) to Sri Lanka. The cyclone triggered widespread flooding, landslides and extensive infrastructure damage, overwhelming the country’s disaster-response mechanisms.
Indian Navy ships INS Vikrant and INS Udayagiri were among the first foreign vessels to respond. Both warships were in Sri Lankan waters for the International Fleet Review 2025, organised to mark the Sri Lankan Navy’s 75th anniversary, when the cyclone struck. Following the cyclone’s landfall on November 27, the vessels were swiftly redeployed for HADR operations.
Under Operation Sagar Bandhu, the Indian Army also established a field hospital in Mahiyanganaya near Kandy and addressed urgent medical needs in the region. The facility provided critical life-saving care, including trauma management, surgeries and general medical treatment, serving around 1,000 to 1,200 patients daily.
(IANS)
