Thiruvananthapuram

More than 200 Indian nationals stranded in Sri Lanka after Cyclone Ditwah were evacuated to Thiruvananthapuram by the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Sunday, a Defence spokesperson said.

An IAF aircraft from Colombo landed around 7.30 pm, and another C-130J carrying 135 people was expected by 11 pm.

The IL-76 and C-130J aircraft, earlier deployed to deliver rescue material and NDRF teams under Operation Sagar Bandhu, were used for the evacuation.

IAF helicopters have also been conducting Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief missions in Sri Lanka, airlifting 57 Sri Lankan Army personnel from Diyathalawa and Colombo to landslide-hit Kotmale, which remains cut off by road.

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In a hybrid mission, Garud Commandos guided stranded civilians to landing zones, enabling helicopters to evacuate 55 people, including Indians, foreigners and Sri Lankan nationals. The two helicopters have flown over 12 sorties so far.