Colombo

India has airlifted a modular Bailey Bridge system and 500 water-purification units to cyclone-hit Sri Lanka to restore connectivity and essential services, the Indian mission said on Thursday.

Cyclone Ditwah has caused severe flooding and landslides since November 16, leaving at least 479 dead and 350 missing, and straining the island nation’s disaster-response capacity.

A C-17 transport aircraft carried the bridge system, water units, 22 personnel including engineers and a medical team. The bridge can be installed within hours to replace damaged infrastructure.

Disaster-management cooperation also continues digitally: Andhra Pradesh Real-Time Governance Secretary Bhaskar Katamneni shared a “digital toolkit” of best practices with Sri Lankan officials to aid preparedness and response.

India’s assistance is part of Operation Sagar Bandhu, which includes air, sea, and ground missions delivering urgent relief. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for India’s support.

As of Wednesday, over 1.6 million people across 455,000 families remain affected. Relief centres shelter 188,000 people, while mobile coverage is 75 per cent restored. Accidental deaths among relief workers have risen to eight.

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Economic losses from the cyclone are estimated at USD 6–7 billion, about 3–5 per cent of Sri Lanka’s GDP.