INDIAN ARMY EXTENDS ASSISTANCE TO SRI LANKA UNDER OP SAGAR BANDHU
Bengaluru, 11 Dec 2025
The Indian Army contingent deployed in Sri Lanka under Op Sagar Bandhu has set up and is operating a fully functional field hospital in one of the worst flood-affected regions, delivering critical medical support to thousands of citizens.
The journey itself demanded exceptional resolve. After landing in Colombo, the team undertook an arduous 18-hour move to the disaster zone, navigating washed-out routes and widespread disruption. Upon arrival, they were confronted with a bare parking lot available for establishing the hospital, interrupted electricity, inconsistent water supply and severely impaired communication networks, conditions that would have paralysed any conventional medical response.
Yet, the contingent, in coordination with Local Authorities in Sri Lanka, transformed challenges into opportunities through professionalism, innovation and seamless teamwork. The engineers and medical teams worked through the night to raise fully functional hospital shelters, integrating portable gensets to ensure uninterrupted power for critical care, surgeries and life-saving interventions. They coordinated with district authorities to secure regular water supply and established a robust communication centre, restoring real-time connectivity with India, logistics channels and local agencies, enabling rapid reinforcement and smooth operations.
To accelerate setup and enhance patient care, the contingent leveraged new-age technologies. Aerial surveys using surveillance drones enabled optimised hospital layout planning in the flooded terrain. HVAC-equipped medical tents allowed swift establishment of a sterile, fully operational Operation Theatre, while rapid blood and sample movement was facilitated through purpose-designed holistic tools that significantly reduced diagnostic turnaround time.
In just a few days, the field hospital has grown into a comprehensive, multi-specialty medical node. The team established Operation Theatre capabilities, X-ray and laboratory facilities, dental care and multiple dedicated OPDs, including surgery, orthopaedics, dental and family medicine. These facilities have enabled the contingent to provide medical assistance to over 5,000 patients, offering not just treatment but also reassurance and compassion to families devastated by the floods.
The Indian Army Medical Task Force comprises 85 personnel, including specialist doctors, surgeons, nursing staff, engineers, signalers and logistics teams, working round the clock in close coordination with local administration and NGOs. Their mandate extends beyond medical relief. The signals detachment restored a damaged optical fibre cable supporting a key mobile tower, bringing vital communication services back to the affected populace, a major morale booster for local communities. The contingent is also supplying potable water through portable treatment systems and providing a range of humanitarian assistance wherever gaps are identified.
Through determination, professionalism and empathy, the Indian Army contingent has become a pillar of support for Sri Lankan citizens during one of their most difficult moments. Under Op Sagar Bandhu, India’s commitment to its neighbourhood is once again reflected not only in capability, but in compassion, reaffirming the enduring bonds of friendship between the two nations.
