Shrayan Sen
India’s rapid humanitarian response under Operation Sagar Bandhu has become a crucial support for Sri Lanka as the capital city, Colombo, grapples with extreme flooding, widespread destruction and a mounting human toll following Cyclone Ditwah. With vital supplies, evacuation assistance and medical relief coming from India, Colombo remains in emergency mode while recovery efforts continue.
Colombo Underwater: A City Paralyzed
Large portions of Colombo remain submerged after the Kelani River breached its banks and poured into surrounding residential districts. Streets have become waterways, buses sit stranded under water and homes are filled with mud and contaminated floodwater.
Even days after the storm’s peak, stagnant water persists, slowing access to badly hit areas and complicating relief logistics. For many residents, escape was possible only by boat or airlift.
Massive Humanitarian Toll and Displacement
Across Sri Lanka, over 330 confirmed deaths have been recorded, with hundreds more missing. Approximately 1.3 million citizens have been affected, with a huge concentration of suffering in the Colombo region.
Families have been driven from ruined homes into temporary shelters, clutching only essential belongings. Conditions in these relief centres are crowded and stressful, especially for children and the elderly. Many families have been separated in the chaos of evacuation, still searching for relatives.
Power, Transport and Water Supply Under Threat
Critical infrastructure remains under severe strain. Water inundation near the Ambatale Water Treatment Plant — a lifeline for Colombo’s drinking supply — sparked serious emergency concern. While catastrophic failure was narrowly avoided, the risk remains until floodwaters fully recede.
Roads, bridges, electric stations and rail lines have suffered structural damage. Piles of debris, stranded vehicles and collapsed drainage systems have left sections of the capital disconnected from the rest of the country.
India’s Operation Sagar Bandhu: A Timely Intervention
India’s immediate deployment of relief assets has been instrumental during the crisis. Under Operation Sagar Bandhu:
- Indian Air Force aircraft delivered emergency supplies
- Indian Navy vessels docked with large relief consignments
- Rescue helicopters evacuated stranded civilians
- Medical kits and survival package shipments continued to arrive
Food, blankets, tents, tarpaulins, medicines and hygiene kits are being distributed to high-impact zones with coordination between Indian and Sri Lankan authorities. On-ground teams have also supported emergency mobility in areas unreachable by local resources.
Sri Lanka’s government has publicly expressed gratitude for India’s fast reaction and ongoing presence during the crisis period.
Struggle for Daily Survival
Local residents face immediate hardships:
- scarcity of safe water
- limited sanitation
- interrupted supply chains
- fuel availability issues
- economic paralysis in markets and workplaces
Many are dependent on community kitchens arranged by volunteer groups and relief teams. The trauma of losing homes, belongings and security of livelihood weighs heavily on affected locals.
Risk of Disease and Long-Term Health Concerns
Standing water mixed with sewage waste has created conditions ripe for disease outbreaks. Doctors warn of potential surges in dengue, cholera, hepatitis and skin infections.
Medical workers are calling for sustained supplies of treatment resources, clean water filtration, and rapid sanitation restoration to prevent a secondary health disaster.
Efforts to Restore Normalcy and Begin Recovery
Engineers are working to drain waterlogged districts and restore transportation pathways. Aerial surveying continues to identify submerged pockets and individuals needing evacuation.
But analysts predict that rebuilding Colombo will take months — if not longer. The socioeconomic impact will endure well beyond the immediate rainfall crisis.
A Capital City in Crisis, a Nation in Recovery
While Cyclone Ditwah has moved away from Sri Lanka, its devastating impact remains firmly etched across Colombo’s streets, homes and memory. For now, international solidarity — with India taking a leading role — is helping keep citizens sheltered, fed and hopeful.
As the waters slowly recede, Sri Lanka faces the massive challenge of rebuilding — one neighbourhood, one family, one life at a time.