Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Apr 17: Continuing its mission of solidarity and support, India has sent another significant consignment of humanitarian aid to Myanmar under Operation Brahma, aimed at assisting the country in the aftermath of the catastrophic 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck on March 28.
The fresh tranche of relief materials was officially handed over by Indian Ambassador Abhay Thakur to Mandalay’s Chief Minister Myo Aung. The handover ceremony was attended by leaders of the Indian diaspora from Mandalay and Sagaing, highlighting community involvement in India’s relief efforts.
According to the Indian Embassy in Yangon, the latest shipment includes a range of essential supplies such as a Reverse Osmosis (RO) water purification plant, generator set, rice, noodles, cooking oil, flour (atta), sugar, lentils (dal), salt, Meals Ready-to-Eat (MREs), blankets, and life-saving medicines.
India launched Operation Brahma as part of its First Responder initiative to aid Myanmar with search and rescue operations, medical support, and disaster relief in the wake of the deadly quake. As part of the mission, India has so far provided over 750 metric tonnes of critical aid, including food grains, emergency shelters, clean drinking water, medical kits, and prefabricated structures.
Earlier this week, India dispatched 20 prefabricated office units weighing nearly 50 tonnes via an Indian Air Force (IAF) C-17 aircraft. These structures will serve as temporary government offices in Naypyidaw. Two additional IAF C-17s were also deployed to repatriate doctors and personnel from India’s 60-para field hospital, which concluded its two-week mission after treating over 2,500 patients.
India’s support extended beyond material aid. A specialized medical team, including an orthopedic surgeon, was deployed to hospitals in Naypyidaw to care for those injured during the quake. Additionally, Indian safety and demolition experts assessed structural damage across affected areas, particularly in Mandalay and the capital.
India was the first country to respond to the crisis, swiftly mobilizing a 127-member Army field hospital team and an 80-member National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) unit specializing in urban search and rescue operations.
The Ministry of External Affairs emphasized that these efforts reaffirm India’s unwavering commitment to stand by the people of Myanmar in their time of need.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally conveyed his condolences to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, the head of Myanmar’s State Administration Council. During their meeting on April 4 at the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, PM Modi reaffirmed India's readiness to extend further support and emphasized the deep-rooted ties between the two nations.
Myanmar’s leadership expressed heartfelt gratitude for India’s swift and sustained response, underscoring the strengthening of regional solidarity in times of crisis.