India, Nov. 29 -- India on Saturday deployed two specialised National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams to Sri Lanka to support search, rescue and relief operations in regions affected by Cyclone Ditwah, officials said.

Under Operation Sagar Bandhu, the teams-comprising 80 rescuers and four canine units-took off from Hindon Air Base at 4.06am aboard an Indian Air Force IL-76 aircraft. The contingent is led by P.K. Tiwary, Commandant of the NDRF's 8th Battalion. The NDRF's 8th Battalion had also been deployed to Turkey during the 2023 earthquake and to Myanmar this year.

"The teams are equipped with inflatable boats, hydraulic cutting and breaching tools, communication gear, medical first-aid kits and other specialised humanitarian as...