COLOMBO, Dec. 1 -- India has expanded its emergency assistance to Sri Lanka under Operation Sagar Bandhu, with naval and air assets bolstering search, rescue, and relief efforts for thousands of families affected by severe flooding and landslides across the country, triggered by Cyclone Ditwah.

Chetak helicopters deployed from INS Vikrant evacuated several stranded people to safety on Saturday (Nov 29), and on Sunday (Nov 30), Indian Air Force (IAF) MI-17 helicopters conducted extensive missions over the inaccessible Kotmale region, rescuing pregnant women, infants, critically injured individuals, and foreign nationals.

Among those rescued were citizens of Sri Lanka, India, Germany, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, South Africa, Poland, Be...