The Crossbill Team
India has launched a large-scale humanitarian relief mission to Myanmar, where a powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck on Friday, leaving over 1,600 people dead and thousands injured. Dubbed ‘Operation Brahma,’ the relief effort includes air and sea deployments of aid, rescue personnel, and medical facilities.
The earthquake, which struck at approximately 12:50 pm local time, had its epicenter about 16 kilometres from Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city. As of Saturday afternoon, Myanmar’s ruling military junta reported a death toll of 1,644, with more than 3,400 injured.
However, the US Geological Survey (USGS) has warned that fatalities could surpass 10,000 and that economic losses may exceed Myanmar’s annual GDP. The natural disaster has further compounded the challenges faced by Myanmar, a nation already embroiled in a civil conflict between its military regime and armed rebel groups.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Saturday that by evening, five aircraft carrying relief materials, search and rescue teams, and a mobile field hospital were scheduled to arrive in Myanmar.
Additionally, two Indian Navy vessels, INS Savitri and INS Satpura, were en route to Yangon and expected to dock by Monday. Two more ships remained on standby in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, prepared to set sail once the first pair completed their mission.
When asked whether India had received requests for aid from opposition-controlled regions, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, during a press briefing, stated that relief efforts were being coordinated directly with Myanmar’s government.
“We are talking with the Government of Myanmar. We are coordinating our rescue efforts, relief efforts through the Government of Myanmar. That is where it is, and we will coordinate through them,” Jaiswal asserted.
Explaining the name ‘Operation Brahma,’ Jaiswal noted that Brahma, the Hindu deity of creation, symbolizes rebuilding efforts.
“Today, early hours of today that is, we launched Operation Brahma. Brahma, as you know, is a God of Creation. At a time when we are extending a helping hand to the government of Myanmar, to the people of Myanmar to rebuild their country in the wake of the devastation, this particular name of the operation has a special resonance, a special meaning,” he said.
The name also resonates with historical references to Myanmar as ‘Brahmadesh,’ a term previously used by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, which had sparked criticism from the opposition.
The first Indian relief aircraft departed at 3 am on Saturday, reaching Naypyidaw, the country’s capital, by 8 am IST. It carried 15 tonnes of essential supplies, including tents, blankets, medicines, tarpaulins, sleeping bags, and generators, which were being distributed to affected regions.
Subsequent flights transported specialized search and rescue teams, equipment, and trained dogs, with relief materials destined for Mandalay, one of the worst-hit areas.
In addition to emergency supplies, India has dispatched a field hospital with 118 medical professionals, including doctors and paramedics.
The hospital will have the capability to split into multiple units and will feature a fully functional operating theatre, X-ray services, and dental care, according to Brigadier H.S. Mavi of the Indian Army’s Directorate of Military Operations.
In total, India has delivered 137 tonnes of aid via air and sea, with additional shipments planned. The MEA confirmed that no Indian casualties had been reported in Myanmar, where an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 Indian nationals reside, along with a broader Indian-origin community of around two million.
The earthquake, which struck at approximately 12:50 pm local time, had its epicenter about 16 kilometres from Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city. As of Saturday afternoon, Myanmar’s ruling military junta reported a death toll of 1,644, with more than 3,400 injured.
However, the US Geological Survey (USGS) has warned that fatalities could surpass 10,000 and that economic losses may exceed Myanmar’s annual GDP. The natural disaster has further compounded the challenges faced by Myanmar, a nation already embroiled in a civil conflict between its military regime and armed rebel groups.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Saturday that by evening, five aircraft carrying relief materials, search and rescue teams, and a mobile field hospital were scheduled to arrive in Myanmar.
Additionally, two Indian Navy vessels, INS Savitri and INS Satpura, were en route to Yangon and expected to dock by Monday. Two more ships remained on standby in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, prepared to set sail once the first pair completed their mission.
When asked whether India had received requests for aid from opposition-controlled regions, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, during a press briefing, stated that relief efforts were being coordinated directly with Myanmar’s government.
“We are talking with the Government of Myanmar. We are coordinating our rescue efforts, relief efforts through the Government of Myanmar. That is where it is, and we will coordinate through them,” Jaiswal asserted.
Explaining the name ‘Operation Brahma,’ Jaiswal noted that Brahma, the Hindu deity of creation, symbolizes rebuilding efforts.
“Today, early hours of today that is, we launched Operation Brahma. Brahma, as you know, is a God of Creation. At a time when we are extending a helping hand to the government of Myanmar, to the people of Myanmar to rebuild their country in the wake of the devastation, this particular name of the operation has a special resonance, a special meaning,” he said.
The name also resonates with historical references to Myanmar as ‘Brahmadesh,’ a term previously used by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, which had sparked criticism from the opposition.
The first Indian relief aircraft departed at 3 am on Saturday, reaching Naypyidaw, the country’s capital, by 8 am IST. It carried 15 tonnes of essential supplies, including tents, blankets, medicines, tarpaulins, sleeping bags, and generators, which were being distributed to affected regions.
Subsequent flights transported specialized search and rescue teams, equipment, and trained dogs, with relief materials destined for Mandalay, one of the worst-hit areas.
In addition to emergency supplies, India has dispatched a field hospital with 118 medical professionals, including doctors and paramedics.
The hospital will have the capability to split into multiple units and will feature a fully functional operating theatre, X-ray services, and dental care, according to Brigadier H.S. Mavi of the Indian Army’s Directorate of Military Operations.
In total, India has delivered 137 tonnes of aid via air and sea, with additional shipments planned. The MEA confirmed that no Indian casualties had been reported in Myanmar, where an estimated 50,000 to 60,000 Indian nationals reside, along with a broader Indian-origin community of around two million.
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