Indian Navy deployed four more ships INS Gharial, LCU 54, LCU 51 and LCU 57 with relief materials as part of Operation Sagar Bandhu in Sri Lanka. Photo credit: X/Defence PRO
As part of the ongoing Operation Sagar Bandhu, launched to provide urgent Search & Rescue and Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Relief (HADR) to Sri Lanka, the Indian Navy has deployed four additional ships — INS Gharial, LCU 54, LCU 51 and LCU 57 — to deliver relief material to regions affected by cyclone Ditwah.
Earlier, INS Vikrant, INS Udaygiri and INS Sukanya had extended critical support, including relief supplies and heli-borne search and rescue operations.
According to Indian Navy, the three LCUs reached Colombo on the morning of 07 December, handing over vital relief supplies to Sri Lankan authorities. INS Gharial was slated to arrive at Trincomalee on Monday to continue the humanitarian mission.
Carrying 1,000 tonnes of relief supplies, this deployment highlights the deep people-to-people ties between India and Sri Lanka and reaffirm the Indian Navy’s steadfast commitment to timely humanitarian assistance across the Indian Ocean Region.
Published – December 08, 2025 09:54 pm IST
