Indian Army begins reconnaissance in Mandalay as Indian Navy ships carrying 52 tons of relief gear head to Yangon under coordinated humanitarian mission.
India Deploys Relief Teams and Naval Ships Under ‘Operation Brahma’ to Support Earthquake-Hit Myanmar
Mandalay [Myanmar], March 30: India has launched Operation Brahma, a large-scale humanitarian mission to assist Myanmar in the wake of Friday’s catastrophic 7.7-magnitude earthquake, which has left at least 1,700 dead, over 3,400 injured, and hundreds still missing.
According to a statement from the Indian Army, the first Relief and Rescue Detachment, comprising 10 personnel, arrived at Mandalay International Airport at 5:45 pm MST on Sunday. The team has already begun site reconnaissance to set up a Field Hospital and is currently undergoing area orientation to streamline further operations. The main body, equipped with heavy machinery and medical supplies, is scheduled to travel by road on Monday.
The mission is being coordinated by the Ministry of External Affairs along with Integrated Defence Staff, Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
Indian Navy Joins Relief Effort with Four Ships En Route to Yangon
In a parallel relief effort, the Indian Navy has deployed four ships — INS Satpura and INS Savitri from the Eastern Naval Command, and INS Karmuk and LCU 52 from the Andaman and Nicobar Command — carrying 52 tons of essential relief materials bound for Yangon.
According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), these ships are loaded with HADR pallets that include clothing, food, drinking water, medicines, and emergency supplies. The deployment underscores India’s commitment to being the ‘First Responder’ in regional crises.
Rescue Operations Underway as Myanmar Grapples with Historic Quake
Meanwhile, rescue teams in Myanmar are racing against time to find survivors trapped beneath rubble across Sagaing, Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw, and Bago, areas severely impacted by the tremor. The quake, which also shook parts of Thailand and China, is being described as the most powerful to hit Myanmar in over a century.
Infrastructure damage, communication breakdowns, and overwhelmed hospitals are complicating response efforts. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) has estimated that the true death toll could exceed 10,000, once full assessments are completed.
India’s Humanitarian Response: A Regional Lifeline
India’s quick mobilisation of resources under Operation Brahma signals not just its deep humanitarian concern, but also a reaffirmation of its strategic and diplomatic outreach in Southeast Asia. With its forces on the ground and at sea, India aims to alleviate suffering, offer critical medical support, and stand shoulder to shoulder with Myanmar during its hour of crisis.
The relief operations are expected to expand further in the coming days, with additional medical supplies, field hospitals, and personnel ready to be deployed as required.