India sends 440 tonnes of relief material to earthquake-hit Myanmar

India has sent an additional 440 tonnes of relief material, including rice, edible oils, and medicines, to earthquake-hit Myanmar. An Indian Navy ship INS Gharial that is designed to carry tanks, vehicles, and troops to battle, was despatched from Visakhapatnam for Yangon Myanmar on Tuesday.

The relief consignment is equivalent to the load of nearly 45-48 trucks.

Earlier on Tuesday, two naval warships, INS Karmuk and LCU 52, reached Yangon with around 30 tonnes of relief material. Additionally, an Indian Air Force C-130 landed in Mandalay with essential supplies, including medicines, water, and diesel generators.

On Monday, two naval ships INS Satpura and INS Savitri also reached Yangon, carrying approximately 40 tonnes of aid.

The Indian embassy in Myanmar, in a social media post on X, said that in the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, India launched ‘Operation Brahma’ to provide immediate support to the affected regions, including Sagaing, Mandalay, Naypyidaw, Shan, and Bago.

India has swiftly mobilised emergency assistance, deploying a team of rescue and medical professionals along with relief materials including food, water, tents, medicines, and essential supplies.

On March 29, an IAF aircraft delivered the first tranche of 15 tonnes of humanitarian assistance in Yangon. Indian Ambassador to Myanmar Abhay Thakur formally handed over the supplies at Yangon airport in the presence of the Chief Minister U Soe Thein.

That same day, two more C-130 and two C-17 aircraft landed in Naypyitaw transporting an 80-member National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) search and rescue team, a 120-member Indian Army medical team, and 85 tonnes of HADR assistance. These were the first international assistance flights to Naypyitaw.

The NDRF and medical teams were deployed by Monday across 13 locations in Mandalay’s ‘Sector-D’.

The Indian embassy said, “We will remain engaged with Myanmar’s authorities and stakeholders to provide continuing support in the coming weeks as Myanmar assesses the full extent of the damage and begins rehabilitation efforts”.