Indian Army Restores Key Communications Link in Cyclone-Hit Sri Lanka Under ‘Operation Sagar Bandhu’

The Integrated Task Force of the Indian Army's Shatrujeet Brigade restored a critical communications link in Sri Lanka's Mahiyanganaya region, one of the areas worst affected by Cyclone Ditwah, the Indian High Commission said on Wednesday.

The destructive cyclone had severely damaged the Optical Fibre Cable (OFC) network, resulting in a major communications blackout across the region.

After the Sri Lanka Telecom PLC (SLT-Mobitel) issued an urgent request for assistance, signallers of the Indian Army deployed to the island nation under New Delhi's 'Operation Sagar Bandhu' relief operation, moved quickly and interjected.

Despite the difficult terrain and the adverse weather conditions, the team reached the affected stretch of the OFC route where a fallen tree had damaged the line near the BTS tower close to the Indian Army Field Hospital.

Using precise OFC splicing and technical repairs, the Army contingent swiftly restored connectivity to both civil and operational networks, reinstating the primary communications ring in Mahiyanganaya, ensuring the rapid restoration of all affected communication lines.

"This reaffirms India's commitment as a first responder, restoring robust and reliable communication infrastructure when it is needed most," the Indian High Commission in Colombo said, reports News Wire.

The repairs form a small part of India's massive relief operations in Sri Lanka, following the deadly rampage of the cyclone, and the unrelenting barrage of floods and rains.

As part of 'Sagar Bandhu', the deployed Indian Army contingent has also set up a fully operational field hospital in one of the worst-hit localities, where they are providing emergency care, lending essential medical services, and providing life-saving treatment to thousands.

Sri Lanka's Deputy Health Minister Hansaka Wijemuni and Health Secretary Dr Anil Jasinghe jointly reviewing the ongoing operations during their visit to the field hospital on Wednesday, acknowledged the "critical humanitarian assistance" being delivered to the affected families by the Indian Army.

Apart from medical assistance, New Delhi is also aiding Colombo in the restoration of all its vital public infrastructure, affected by the cyclone, as well as providing critical on-ground intervention for addressing any urgent operational requirements.

Earlier, the Indian Army's Engineer Task Force (ETF) had begun retrieving and de-launching the damaged Puliyampokkanai Bridge in Jaffna. Using a wheeled excavator, the team is assisting Sri Lanka's Road Development Authority (RDA) to speed up restoration efforts.

Similarly, the Indian Navy also expanded its support earlier this week, deploying four additional ships —the INS Gharial, LCU 54, LCU 51 and LCU 57 —on December 8, to deliver humanitarian aid and disaster relief (HADR) supplies to cyclone-affected zones.

This follows earlier assistance provided by INS Vikrant, INS Udaygiri and INS Sukanya, which had carried out relief operations and heli-borne search and rescue missions.

Furthermore, expanding its post-cyclone relief operations in Sri Lanka, the Indian Army in coordination with authorities from Colombo is also actively working to restore the island nation's many damaged communication networks, assisting in bridge repairs, and deploying additional naval ships carrying nearly 1,000 tonnes of relief material.