India has initiated 'Operation Brahma,' an extensive relief and rescue mission, following the catastrophic earthquake that impacted Myanmar and adjacent Thailand. The earthquake, registering a magnitude of 7.7, has resulted in more than 1,600 fatalities and extensive devastation throughout the area. In its capacity as a regional first responder, India has deployed substantial resources to support the nations in distress.
According to the Press Information Bureau of Government of India, In a prompt reaction to the catastrophic earthquake that hit Myanmar on March 28, 2025, the Indian Army launched ‘Operation Brahma’ to send a specialized medical task force aimed at delivering urgent humanitarian aid.
A contingent of 118 members from the distinguished Shatrujeet Brigade Medical Responders, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Jagneet Gill, departed for Myanmar, equipped with vital medical supplies and equipment. The Airborne Angels Task Force is specifically trained to provide advanced medical and surgical care in areas affected by disasters.
As part of this initiative, the Indian Army will set up a 60-bed Medical Treatment Centre to offer immediate assistance to those injured in the disaster. This facility will be equipped to manage trauma cases, perform emergency surgeries, and deliver essential medical services to bolster the local healthcare system, which has been significantly overwhelmed by the crisis.
This humanitarian effort highlights India’s dedication to its ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and embodies the enduring Indian principle of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ – the world is one family. The Indian Army remains committed to supporting allied nations during times of need, demonstrating India’s determination to act as a first responder in the region. The deployment has been meticulously coordinated with the Ministry of External Affairs and in collaboration with Myanmar’s authorities. Most of the fatalities are in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second largest city, and the region closest to the earthquake’s epicentre.
India has a history of successful humanitarian relief and evacuation operations where a huge number of people have been provided humanitarian assistance in their country or Indians have been brought back to the safety of Indian borders. In this context, knowing about ‘Operation Brahma’ and other similar rescue and evacuation operations conducted by India becomes essential. Let’s take a look at five of these recent operations:
In October 2023, as the Israel-Hamas war escalated and countries scrambled to bring home their people trapped in the fighting or looking for a way out of the war zone, India launched Operation Ajay to repatriate its citizens from Israel and Palestine.
In April 27, 2023, India launched Operation Kaveri to evacuate its nationals stuck in Sudan, where an intense conflict had broken out between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), rival factions of the country’s military government. Around 200-odd people, including the embassy staff, were stuck in Khartoum and the journey to Port Sudan was too risky to be undertaken. That’s when Wadi Seidna emerged as an alternative evacuation point.
The Indian government pressed the IAF’s transport aircraft, the C130J Super Hercules and the C17 Globemaster, and naval ships INS Sumedha and INS Tarkash into action. With the airfield at Khartoum not open for operations, those stranded were brought from various parts of the country to Port Sudan. Over 3,800 Indians were eventually brought back under this mammoth operation.
In 2022, when war broke out between Russia and Ukraine, the government of India had launched Operation Ganga to bring back Indians stranded in Ukraine. It also set up 24×7 control centres to assist in the evacuation of Indians through the border crossing points with Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovak Republic. As many as 90 flights were employed for the task, including 14 Indian Air Force flights.
In August 2021, India launched Operation Devi Shakti to evacuate its citizens and Afghan partners from Kabul after its takeover by the Taliban.
In one of the largest evacuation exercises since the 1990 Kuwait airlift, the government launched Vande Bharat mission in 2020 to bring home thousands of Indian nationals stranded abroad due to the coronavirus lockdown. Apart from the flights, the Indian Navy launched ‘Operation Samudra Setu’ (Sea Bridge) as a part of national effort to repatriate Indian citizens from overseas.
India has been a key player in fostering regional cooperation through organizations like SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) and BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation). Overall, India's support to its neighbors reflects its regional leadership role and its commitment to fostering peace, stability, and development in South Asia.
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