New Delhi, Mar 29 (UNI) Extending a big helping hand to quake-hit neighbour Myanmar, India today launched Operation Brahma, sending essential relief materials and also sent an 80-member search and rescue team along with four canines, and is dispatching a mobile hospital equipped with surgical facilities along with specialists and paramedics.
A day after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake devastated Myanmar, especially Mandalay, India launched Operation Brahma, which MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said also denoted reconstruction.
An Indian Air Force plane left at 3 am early on Saturday with 15 tonnes of relief material, including tents, tarpaulin sheets, essential medicines, food stuffs like biscuits and noodles and hygiene kits.
The IAF plane landed at Nay Pyi Taw airport where the Indian Ambassador Abhay Thakur received the relief materials and handed it over to the Myanmar government authorities.
India is also sending four naval ships, loaded with 50 tonnes of relief material. Indian navy ships INS Satpura and INS Savitri are carrying 40 tonnes of humanitarian aid and headed for the port of Yangon.
Two other ships are on standby and will leave with relief material.
A 118-member Indian Army Field Hospital unit is also headed for Mandalay from Agra.
The team will assist in providing first aid and emergency medical services to the people of Myanmar.
“We are extending a helping hand to the government and people of Myanmar to rebuild the country.
The name Operation Brahma has a special resonance, and meaning in that respect,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a special briefing.
Two IAF aircraft with an 80-member NDRF search and rescue personnel and four canines is headed for Myanmar. While one has left, the other one is set to leave, the spokesperson said.
The aircraft are also loaded with gen sets, hygiene sets, kitchen sets. The aircraft will reach Nay Pyi Taw and from there they will be taken to Mandalay where there has been maximum devastation, the spokesperson said.
The field hospital, comprising 118 personnel, including specialists, doctors, medics, is also headed to Nay Pyi Taw, from where they will go to Mandalay.
The 60 Para Field Ambulance is also headed for Myanmar as part of Operation Brahma.
Indian Ambassador Abhay Thakur is stationed in Nay Pyi Taw and is coordinating the Indian relief measures with the Myanmarese government authorities.
Of the four Indian Navy ships with HADR (Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief) material, two were in Port Blair and two in Visakhapatnam. Two of these ships left for Yangon port. The first ship left at 2 a.m. and the second one left on Saturday afternoon. The ships will reach Yangon port on March 31 and will be able to enter with the tide.
The Indian navy is in touch with the Myanmar navy for smooth carryout of this operation.
There are around 15,000 Indian families in Myanmar, comprising around 60,000 people. No casualty has been reported among the Indian nationals, and the Indian Embassy is in touch with the Indian community, the MEA spokesperson said.
The HADR material on the ships comprises durries, clothes, milk powder, noodles, soap, laundry detergent.
There are additional ships available on standby ready to be despatched if required.
The Mandalay area, where the earthquake struck, has seen extensive damage to physical infrastructure.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also spoke with Myanmar’s leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and said India stands in solidarity with the people of Myanmar in this difficult hour.
In a post on X, the PM also said that India is despatching disaster relief material, humanitarian assistance, search and rescue teams to the affected areas as part of Operation Brahma.
“Spoke with Senior General H.E. Min Aung Hlaing of Myanmar. Conveyed our deep condolences at the loss of lives in the devastating earthquake.
“As a close friend and neighbour, India stands in solidarity with the people of Myanmar in this difficult hour.
“Disaster relief material, humanitarian assistance, search & rescue teams are being expeditiously dispatched to the affected areas as part of #OperationBrahma.”

UNI RN