India sends aid to quake-hit Myanmar under Operation Brahma: 'Our policy to be first responder'

India sent a contingent of 80 NDRF personnel to quake-hit Myanmar. (Courtesy: X | @DrSJaishankar)

India on Saturday delivered 15 tonnes of relief materials to Myanmar after a 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit the neighbouring nation and claimed over 1,000 lives. The supplies were sent to Yangon, under 'Operation Brahma', in a C130J military transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

"We provided relief, material, humanitarian assistance to the people of Myanmar. It is part of our policy to be the first responder" MEA said in a briefing on Operation Brahma.

The relief materials included tents, sleeping bags, blankets, ready-to-eat meals, water purifiers, solar lamps, generator sets and essential medicines.

India has already dispatched two naval ships to Myanmar while a field hospital is slated to be airlifted later on Saturday. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that two more Indian naval ships would follow under this humanitarian assistance operation.

#OperationBrahmaA 118-member Indian Army Field Hospital unit is en route to Mandalay from Agra.The team will assist in providing first aid and emergency medical services to the people of Myanmar. pic.twitter.com/ULMp19KjEf

Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 29, 2025

"Besides the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) being sent via aircraft, a field hospital with 118 members from Agra is expected to leave later on Saturday," he said.

Personnel of the federal disaster contingency force are being deployed under Operation Brahma, with quake rescue equipment such as strong concrete cutters, drill machines, hammers, plasma cutting machines etc to provide succour to the neighbouring country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday spoke to Min Aung Hlaing, the head of the military-led government in Myanmar, and said India stands in solidarity with the country in dealing with the devastation caused by a massive earthquake there. India shares a 1,643-kilometre-long border with Myanmar on the eastern side.

The Indian embassy in Myanmar said it is coordinating speedy delivery of assistance and relief supplies from India with Myanmar.

"We are also in constant touch with Indian community. Reiterate our emergency number for needy Indian nationals:+95-95419602," it posted on X, formerly Twitter.