ANI
02 Apr 2025

By Rajnish Singh

Mandalay [Myanmar], April 2 (ANI): Operation Brahma by India is operating at full tilt aimed towards providing rescue and relief to Myanmar, which was struck by a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake. The locals have hailed India's aid and support in this time of distress.

A Myanmar local, Hussain spoke to ANI and expressed thanks for the Indian efforts underway in Myanmar. He said, 'We got a great sense of relief when you came. You (Indians) are very hardworking people. We are very happy and at peace. We have benefited a lot from the arrival of NDRF. May god shower blessings upon India and its leadership'.

NDRF crew member Kavita Singh spoke to ANI. She said, 'There is no possibility for people being alive because few days have passed, hot weather. We have only retrieved dead bodies'.

She highlighted the conviction of NDRF and told ANI that despite the infrastructural damage difficulties, the NDRF team is working after undertaking risk because they are committed towards the operation.

Singh also said that the NDRF team has recieved a lot of support from the locals. She shared an incident wherein a family came to the NDRF team and expressed relief and hope on the team's efforts for the rescue operations. 'We are very proud and thankful that you have come to help us', the locals told them.

NRDF crew member Manju Bhati said that a team of 57 members of NDRF has arrived in Myanmar. She said they have been allotted 13 locations to work upon and that NDRF. 'It is very difficult for us to take out the dead bodies. It is also very hot, so it is very difficult for anyone to be alive... In such a small street, neither excavators nor cranes, nothing can be operated... Everyone is in God's hands now.'

In response to the earthquake that struck Myanmar an NDRF team and essential relief supplies have been deployed to support rescue efforts. 'An Urban Search & Rescue (USAR) Team of 80 skilled Rescuers from 8th Battalion NDRF, Ghaziabad, along with four trained canines, was airlifted in two sorties by the Indian Air Force (IAF) C-130 Hercules Aircraft', the NDRF said in a statement on Tuesday.

The scale of devastation in Myanmar is huge and the swift actions being taken by the government of India is helping alleviate the distress being faced by the people of Myanmar after the earthquake.

India has delivered 625 metric tonnes (MT) of Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief (HADR) material to Myanmar as part of Operation Brahma, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday.

India launched Operation Brahma to provide necessary support, including Search and Rescue (SAR), humanitarian aid, disaster relief and medical assistance, following the devastating earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28.

Being the First Responder in times of crisis in the Neighbourhood, Operation Brahma is a whole-of-government endeavour by India to respond to widespread destruction in Myanmar.

India has extended support from all quarters to help Myanmar.

According to the Indian Army, surgeons at the facility have also successfully performed two life-saving surgeries. On Tuesday, Lt Gen Myo Moe Aung, overall in charge of relief operations in Mandalay Division, paid an impromptu visit to the hospital. He commended the highly functional medical setup and appreciated India's extraordinary efforts in supporting Myanmar during this tragic crisis.

Indian Naval ships Satpura and Savitri, from the Eastern Naval Command - sailed for Yangon on March 29 carrying 40 tonnes of HADR material. These were handed over to the Chief Minister of Yangon on Monday. Indian Navy Ships Karmuk and LCU 52 from the Andaman and Nicobar Command sailed for Yangon on March 30, carrying 30 tonnes of relief material including HADR pallets comprising essential clothing, drinking water, food, medicines, and emergency stores. These were handed over at Yangon Port on Tuesday, the MEA said in a statement on Tuesday.

MEA underscored that India stands ready to deploy more material assistance and resources to Myanmar depending on ground-level needs and requirements.

India's ongoing efforts under Operation Brahma reflect its commitment to respond swiftly and in full measure to natural disasters in the neighbourhood. (ANI)