Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke on phone with Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Monday and expressed his condolences over the loss of life and widespread devastation in Sri Lanka due to Cyclone Ditwah.
He expressed that the people of India stand in firm solidarity and support with the people of Sri Lanka in this hour of need, the PMO report said.
Read also | Cyclone Ditwah leaves a trail of destruction; 334 dead, hundreds missing
President Dissanayake expressed his deep gratitude for India’s assistance and appreciated the rapid deployment of rescue teams and relief materials. He also expressed appreciation to the people of Sri Lanka for India’s timely and effective response.
By Sunday, Sri Lanka’s catastrophic floods and landslides caused by extreme weather conditions since November 16 had killed 334 people and left 370 missing.
PM Modi assured that India, in line with its MAHASAGAR vision and its established ‘first responder’ position, will continue to extend all necessary assistance in the coming days as Sri Lanka undertakes rehabilitation efforts, restores public services and works to restore livelihoods in the affected regions. The two leaders agreed to remain in close contact.
As the first responder, India deployed two transport aircraft – a C-130 and an IL-76 – carrying paramilitary personnel and relief supplies on 29 November as part of India’s humanitarian assistance extended to Sri Lanka under Operation Sagar Bandhu.
India has also sent two urban search and rescue teams comprising 80 members of the National Disaster Response Force. Two Chetak helicopters on board the aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, which was berthed in Colombo, also joined the rescue.
India supplies 53 tons of relief material
Meanwhile, India has flown 53 tonnes of humanitarian supplies by air and sea since November 28, while more than 2,000 stranded Indians have been brought back from the cyclone-hit island nation, the government said on Monday.
Read also | Cyclone Ditwah: India sends relief materials to Sri Lanka under Op Sagar Bandhu
“NDRF teams continue to conduct search and rescue operations in various severely affected and isolated areas of Sri Lanka, assisting flood-affected families and ensuring their immediate safety. More than 150 persons have been rescued and assisted in these combined operations, which are ongoing,” the Ministry of External Affairs said.
China donates US$1 million to Sri Lanka for emergency aid
China has provided $1 million in emergency aid to Sri Lanka as the country grapples with severe flooding and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah.
In a social media post, the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka said the Red Cross Society of China has also contributed US$100,000 in emergency funds to the Sri Lanka Red Cross to support the ongoing rescue and relief work.
According to the state news agency Xinhua, another emergency aid from the Chinese government is currently underway.
Sri Lanka to set up a special fund to recover from the devastation
Dissanayake’s office said a special fund, backed by both the public and private sectors, would be created to help with recovery after the catastrophic floods and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah, PTI reported.
The announcement came as the Disaster Management Center said the death toll had risen to 366, with 367 people still missing as of 6pm on Monday.
Kandy district recorded the highest number of deaths with 88, followed by Nuwara Eliya with 75 and Badulla with 71.
Read also | Cyclone Ditwah: Indians evacuated from Sri Lanka under Operation Sagar Bandhu
The World Bank was commissioned to conduct the Global Rapid Post-Disaster Damage Estimation (GRADE).
The government expects to receive the GRADE assessment within two weeks.
Dissanayake said the extent of the damage was much greater than what was visible on the surface.
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