India To Launch Rescue Airlift For Nationals Stranded In Cyclone Ditwah-Hit Sri Lanka

India is preparing to evacuate its citizens stranded in flood-hit Sri Lanka, with two Indian Air Force transport aircraft, an IL-76 and a C-130J, expected to begin airlifting Indians on Sunday, top sources told CNN-News18.

The evacuation plan comes as severe flooding and landslides triggered by Cyclone Ditwah continue to batter the island nation, leaving many Indian travellers stuck amid widespread flight disruptions.

The High Commission of India in Colombo on Saturday established an emergency help desk at Bandaranaike International Airport to assist stranded Indian nationals.

“Indian passengers facing difficulties are being provided food, water and other assistance,” the mission said in a post on X, noting that the crisis had caused “severe air

traffic disruptions”.

Sri Lanka has appealed for international help as the death toll climbed to 123, with over 130 people still missing, according to the country’s Disaster Management Centre.

Nearly 15,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed, forcing close to 44,000 people into state-run shelters. In total, more than 200,000 people across 61,000 families have been affected.

India has already launched Operation Sagar Bandhu, a large-scale humanitarian mission to assist the cyclone-hit nation.

Indian Navy ships INS Vikrant and INS Udaygiri delivered nearly 6.5 tonnes of relief supplies—including dry rations, fresh food and essential items, to support families devastated by the disaster.

Additional consignments and personnel are also being deployed to back ongoing rescue and recovery operations.

Sri Lankan authorities have described the situation, particularly in the Western Province, as an “unprecedented disaster” as rivers continue to swell and infrastructure collapses across multiple districts.

With commercial flight operations severely disrupted and thousands stranded, the Indian Air Force’s evacuation flights are expected to provide the first organised route for Indian nationals to return home.