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Two Chetak helicopters from INS Vikrant were also deployed for search and rescue operations.
A house partially submerged by floods stands in an area affected by flood, following heavy rainfall in Malwana, Sri Lanka, November 29, 2025. (REUTERS)
Sri Lanka has set up a dedicated 24/7 hotline for tourists requiring assistance amid ongoing flooding and severe weather conditions due to cyclone Ditwah.
The Sri Lanka Tourism Emergency & Assistance Centre urged visitors needing guidance, safety information, or travel support to call 1912. The hotline aims to provide timely help to tourists affected by adverse weather, including disrupted travel plans or emergency situations.
“Due to the current weather conditions, if you need any assistance or emergency support, our Tourism Hotline is available 24/7. We’re here to help you with guidance, safety information, and travel support,” the official notice said.
The High Commission of India in Sri Lanka is assisting stranded Indian passengers at Bandaranaike International Airport, Colombo. Following severe air traffic disruptions, Indian travelers are being provided with food, water, and other essential support under Operation Sagar Bandhu.
In a major relief effort, two aircraft carrying over 20 tonnes of supplies and NDRF teams landed in Colombo early on Saturday morning. The teams are ready to support ongoing search and rescue operations across affected areas in Sri Lanka.
Two Chetak helicopters from INS Vikrant were also deployed for search and rescue operations, carrying personnel of the Sri Lankan forces to assist in ongoing relief efforts across flood-hit areas.
Two MI-17V5 helicopters of @IAFMCC also touched down in Sri Lanka this evening to bolster ongoing Search and Rescue (SAR) efforts. They brought essential HADR supplies and personnel, to support relief operations in Sri Lanka. “The helicopters will work closely with authorities in search and rescue missions,” the Indian Embassy wrote on X.
Indian Air Force (IAF) evacuation flights will begin from 5 AM on Sunday to bring back Indian passengers stranded at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport due to poor flight connectivity following severe weather disruptions, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said on Saturday.
Southern Railway On High Alert
The Ministry of Railways on Saturday said that, in view of Cyclone Ditwah, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed the preparedness of the Southern Railway to ensure minimal disruption to train services.
The ministry said war rooms have been activated at the Railway Board, zonal and divisional levels, with teams put on high alert to respond swiftly to any exigencies. Railways is also closely coordinating with civil authorities and continuously monitoring the situation as the cyclone approaches, the ministry added.
In a post on X, Tharoor said he spoke to the Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Santosh Jha, regarding the plight of stranded Indian nationals, particularly constituents from Thiruvananthapuram, who have been unable to return home because of the lack of commercial flight options.
“Reassured to hear that the Indian Air Force will be organising evacuation flights starting at 5 AM tomorrow to take Indian passengers, who have registered with the Indian High Commission’s control room at the airport, back to safety in India, including in Thiruvananthapuram. Anxious family members may reassure their relatives stranded at the airport, that help is on the way,” he posted.
Operation Sagar Bandhu
India launched ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’, a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) initiative to support Sri Lanka as the island country battles Cyclone Ditwah, which has claimed at least 130 lives and left over 130 people missing.
According to Disaster Management Centre Director General Sampath Kotuwegoda, relief operations were underway with 43,995 people moved to state-run welfare centres after their homes were destroyed in the week-long heavy rains.
The first tranche of relief materials was handed over after the consignments were transported by the Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier INS Vikrant and frontline ship INS Udaigiri to the island nation.
The first consignment, consisting of 4.5 tonnes of dry rations and 2 tonnes of fresh rations, was sourced from Indian naval ships currently docked in Sri Lanka. The supplies included staple food items, ready-to-eat meals, dairy and bakery products, beverages and other essentials.
Cyclone Ditwah
Sri Lanka on Friday grappled with one of its worst disasters as cyclonic storm Ditwah wreaked havoc, causing floods and landslides that claimed more than 120 lives.
Disaster Management Centre Director General Sampath Kotuwegoda said relief operations were in progress, with 43,995 people shifted to state-run welfare centres after their homes were destroyed by a week of heavy rains.
November 29, 2025, 7:05 PM IST
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