At 1300h on November 26, 2025, Indian meteorological satellites reported a depression forming up at the southeast coast of Sri Lanka in the Bay of Bengal. The depression was continuously monitored by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD). The depression gradually intensified due to favourable conditions caused by high ocean temperatures and low-pressure vertical wind shear. The deep depression by 0100h on November 27 generated a violent cyclonic storm. The IMD informed the World Meteorological Organisation, which named it Cyclone Ditwah as per international protocol. The name Ditwah is based on a heritage lagoon located at the Socotra Islands in Yemen.
The cyclone moved from east to west initially with high intensity on November 28 and enveloped almost the entire Sri Lankan southern and eastern coast with heavy rains and lightning. The cyclone then moved north along the Coromandel coast to Tamil Nadu and Puducherry on November 29, and it weakened. The cyclone again turned back on November 30 and gradually diminished, but it had caused havoc and destruction in Sri Lanka and also in some parts of southern India, especially Chennai and Puducherry. Cyclonic storm Ditwah finally petered off by December 3, 2025. The violent winds at the speed of 65 Knots lashed the coast and blew away trees and huts. Red alert was sounded in the Sri Lankan town of Kandy in the western province. The two rivers (Kelani and Attanagalu) became violent and breached the banks. The Sri Lankan government sent an SOS to the Indian Foreign Office and other countries for Humanitarian Disaster Relief Assistance. The Indian government immediately responded and issued a warning order to the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy and NDRF Headquarters.
Indian Rescue teams have saved nearly 150 people, including a nine-month pregnant woman, stranded in Puttalam district and moved them to a field hospital. Indian rescue teams are carrying out search and rescue missions in the areas hit by the cyclone, which has claimed 619 lives, and nearly 500 are still missing
Operation Sagar Bandhu was launched at dawn on December 3, and two Indian Naval ships, INS Vikrant (Aircraft Carrier) and INS Udayagiri (Frigate), were mobilised. They were loaded with disaster relief materials, including medicines, rescue equipment, tents, water supply equipment and food. The Flotilla reached Colombo and supplied about 100 tonnes of relief material within 6 hours. One IL-76 and C-130 J Hercules also took off from Hindon Airbase with National Disaster Relief Force teams and 25 tonnes of relief material and landed at Bandaranayke International Airport by 1800 h. Another ship, INS Sukanya, reached Trincomalee port on December 4 with 12 tonnes of relief material.
The Indian Navy later deployed four more ships, including INS Gharial, Landing Craft Utility (LCU) 54, LCU 51 and LCU 57, to supply Search and Rescue and Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) stores to cyclone-affected regions of Sri Lanka.
Indian Rescue teams have intensified operations and saved nearly 150 people, including a nine-month pregnant woman, stranded in Puttalam district and moved them to a field hospital. Indian rescue teams are presently deployed and carrying out search and rescue missions in cyclone-hit areas.
Cyclone Ditwah has inflicted widespread destruction and is being described as one of the worst disasters Sri Lanka has faced in this century. It has claimed 619 lives, and nearly 500 are still missing, according to local media reports.
India set up a fully operational Field Hospital in record time at Mahiyangana near Kandy, and a team of doctors and medical staff have been providing first aid, treatment and even minor surgeries. An operating theatre has also been established, and ambulances are ferrying patients to the hospital, which also has a trauma centre and a labour room for urgent deliveries
Colombo and Gampaha districts are the worst hit, with over 4,37,000 people affected; 212 shelters have been established. Badulla and Nuwara districts have reported several landslides and 145 deaths, and several are missing. Kandy reported the highest death toll of 88, and 150 persons are still missing. The Northern and Eastern parts have also been severely affected, with 15,086 displaced. Manar reported 80,000 displaced, and Ampara and Monaragala also reported 11 deaths. In the entire Sri Lanka, 564 shelters have been established, accommodating almost 2,18,526 individuals from 61,612 families. Rescue and relief are the need of the hour. Food, fresh water, medical help and shelters are required on a large scale. India is leaving no stone unturned to help its nearest maritime neighbour in an hour of crisis.
The Indian humanitarian relief mission is proceeding in full swing for the people of Sri Lanka. A fully operational Field Hospital has been set up in record time at Mahiyangana near Kandy to support the affected people of the nearby region. A team of Doctors and Medical staff have been providing First Aid, treatment and even minor surgeries. The medicines are delivered to patients and the needy. An operating theatre has also been established, and ambulances are ferrying patients to the hospital. Indian Field Hospital has a trauma centre, a surgical centre and even a labour room for urgent deliveries.
Two C-17 Globemasters landed on December 4, carrying a dismantled modular steel Bailey bridge and a team of Army Engineers to restore connectivity by constructing Class 40 Road bridges over rivers. The Sri Lankan Meteorological Department further issued a Red Alert on December 5 for thunderstorms and lightning in the Galle and Matara districts in Sabaragamuwa province, and also in Kandy town.
Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his immediate help and boosting the morale of the Sri Lankan people in an hour of crisis, like a good neighbour and complimented India, saying, “A friend in need is a friend in deed”
The relief material has also been coming from various countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Japan, Australia, Bangladesh and the Maldives, but the quantity is insufficient. The United Nations has also sent Red Cross teams for a rescue mission and is coordinating with other agencies like the WHO and the World Bank. The Indian armed forces and NDRF are standing like a rock along with the Sri Lankan people and government, and providing all necessary help and assistance to fight the disaster and restore normalcy.
So far, India has provided 3,000 plus NDRF personnel, 750 tonnes of relief materials, a 50-bed fully operational field hospital, medical teams of Army doctors operating in remote areas and Army sappers have installed two Bailey bridges and repaired many culverts to restore connectivity. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his immediate help and boosting the morale of the Sri Lankan people in an hour of crisis like a good neighbour and complimented India, saying, “A friend in need is a friend in deed.” Operation Sagar Bandhu continues.
-The writer is an Indian Army veteran and a defence analyst. He has keen interest in Geo-strategic affairs and writes regularly on internal and external affairs issues related to India and neighbours. The views expressed are personal and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
