Cyclone Ditwah: 400 Indians stranded evacuated from Sri Lanka, helpline issued

At least 400 Indian nationals stranded at Colombo’s Bandaranaike International Airport due to Cyclone Ditwah were evacuated on Sunday, with the Indian Air Force (IAF) operating special flights to bring them home.

Around 150 passengers were flown to Delhi aboard a C-130 aircraft, while another 250 were airlifted to Thiruvananthapuram on an IL-76. Both aircraft had arrived in Colombo on Saturday carrying food supplies and humanitarian aid for communities hit by flash floods.

In addition, the IAF executed major rescue and evacuation missions in Sri Lanka’s landslide-hit Kotmale region, which remains completely isolated due to road disruption. Throughout the day, IAF helicopters evacuated 45 stranded individuals, including 6 critical casualties and 4 infants, safely transporting them to Colombo. Among those rescued were 12 Indian nationals, numerous foreign nationals, and local Sri Lankan citizens.

To strengthen ground operations,



the IAF airlifted 57 Sri Lankan Army personnel into the affected zone to support ongoing rescue and clearance efforts. The force also deployed Bhishma capsules and medical teams while continuing to airlift more than 300 Indian nationals back to India by 8 pm, with additional sorties planned.

India’s Acting High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Dr Satyanjal Pandey, met the stranded citizens at the airport on Saturday. The High Commission provided food and water and assured passengers that New Delhi was coordinating their immediate evacuation.

In a post on X, the mission said: “@Indiainsl is facilitating the swift return home of the Indian passengers stranded in Sri Lanka. Evacuation flights by @IAF_MCC and commercial airlines are being facilitated today. Every stranded Indian will reach home at the earliest.”

An emergency helpline (+94 773727832, WhatsApp enabled) has been set up for Indians requiring assistance anywhere in the country.