India has ramped up its humanitarian response to the devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar, with rescue and relief operations in full swing under “Operation Brahma.” The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has begun critical rescue efforts at the U Hla Thein monastery, where approximately 170 monks remain trapped following the collapse caused by the quake on March 28. The disaster has claimed over 1,600 lives and injured nearly 3,000 across the region.
An Indian Army team is set to visit a hospital site in Mandalay today to assess needs and establish medical services by Tuesday, providing emergency care to survivors. Meanwhile, the NDRF is coordinating with the Government of Myanmar (GOM) to deploy additional teams to Sky Villa, a residential complex where four 11-story towers collapsed, trapping several foreigners among the debris. The team stands ready to pivot to other priority sites as directed by local authorities.
Further bolstering relief efforts, a consignment of aid will be handed over to the Secretary General of the state Mahanayak Committee, Myanmar’s second-highest monastic authority. This will support around 2,000 displaced monks who, though uninjured, are currently without shelter or basic amenities outside their monastery. Indian teams are also being dispatched to key cultural and structural sites—such as Mandalay Palace, Maha Muni Pagoda, and the Myanmar Institute of Information Technology (MIIT)—all of which have suffered significant damage.
India’s assistance extends beyond rescue and relief, with efforts underway to provide food and accommodation to members of the Indian community in Myanmar affected by the crisis. Launched within hours of the earthquake, Operation Brahma has seen India deploy over 150 tonnes of supplies, including tents, blankets, medical kits, and food, alongside NDRF teams, Army medical units, and naval ships INS Satpura and INS Savitri carrying 40 tonnes of aid to Yangon.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed solidarity with Myanmar’s leadership, affirming India’s commitment as a “first responder” in the region. The swift and comprehensive response underscores India’s humanitarian outreach, blending urgency with compassion as Myanmar grapples with one of its deadliest natural disasters in over a century.