India has quickly deployed its military forces and disaster relief teams to help Myanmar following a devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that has killed more than 1,000 people. The government initiated Operation Brahma, a massive humanitarian operation, to provide vital assistance, such as relief supplies, a field hospital, and an 80-strong search and rescue team.
India’s Quick Response to the Crisis
Immediately after the quake hit Myanmar on Friday afternoon, India put its Army, Navy, Air Force, and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) on standby mode for emergency intervention. The first Indian Air Force (IAF) transport aircraft left Hindon airbase by 3 a.m. Saturday morning carrying 15 tonnes of relief materials in the form of food and medicaments. The flight landed in Yangon by 8 a.m. (IST), paving the way for a swift humanitarian intervention.
At 7:30 p.m. IST, a C-130 transport plane brought in the 80-strong NDRF search and rescue team to Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar, which was still reeling from destroyed infrastructure. The team, the first foreign rescue team to arrive in the capital, will be deployed in Mandalay on Sunday—one of the worst-hit regions.
Multi-Agency Relief Mission
IAF intended to undertake five sorties on Saturday via C-130J and C-17 military transport aircraft in order to dispatch search and rescue teams with canine squads, rescuers’ gear, and an 118-person military field hospital. Four warships of the Indian Navy are also sailing towards relief materials carrying 50 tonnes of material from Port Blair and Visakhapatnam.
Operation Brahma: India’s Commitment to Regional Assistance
The operation, code-named Operation Brahma, represents India’s commitment to regional solidarity and humanitarian assistance. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal highlighted India’s commitment to being the first responder during crises. “It is part of our policy to be the first responder. When we say ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ or the world is one family, we also want to mean it. We want to prove that by action,” Jaiswal said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself contacted Myanmar’s Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, conveying condolences and support on behalf of India. “As a friendly neighbor and close friend, India stands in solidarity with the people of Myanmar at this trying time,” Modi posted on social media. He assured that humanitarian aid, disaster relief items, and search & rescue teams were being sent under #OperationBrahma.
Spoke with Senior General H.E. Min Aung Hlaing of Myanmar. Conveyed our deep condolences at the loss of lives in the devastating earthquake. As a close friend and neighbour, India stands in solidarity with the people of Myanmar in this difficult hour. Disaster relief material,…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 29, 2025
Mandalay City, with 1.7 million people, was left severely devastated, with numerous buildings brought down to rubble. The absence of the necessary equipment to aid rescue has made India’s specialist rescue teams and high-tech equipment a key component of relief work.
NDRF Deputy Inspector General Mohsen Shahedi informed that the team would become functional in 24 to 48 hours, the golden hour for rescuing trapped survivors. A second standby NDRF team is in reserve in Kolkata and can be deployed if necessary.
Indian Army’s Field Hospital Ready for Deployment
The 118-bed Army field hospital, to go into operations by Sunday, consists of trained medical teams, surgical units, anesthetists, orthopedic surgeons, and X-ray facilities. The contingent deployed from Agra previously participated in Operation Dost during the 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquake relief efforts.
Brigadier HS Mavi of Military Operations established that there would be six medical officers, two of them women, in the field hospital. The staff is ready to divide into small teams if needed, and other medical teams are in reserve.
#OperationBrahma gets underway.
First tranche of humanitarian aid from India has reached the Yangon Airport in Myanmar.
🇮🇳 🇲🇲 pic.twitter.com/OmiJLnYTwS
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 29, 2025
The Indian Navy is also in the forefront of relief operations, with four warships carrying relief supplies. Naval Operations Commodore Raghu Nair confirmed that the first ship, with 10 tonnes of relief material, left at 2 a.m. on Saturday, and another at 2 p.m. The ships will arrive at Yangon Port by March 31, when two more warships will resume relief operations.
Earthquake Devastation and Mounting Death Toll
A 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit northwest of Sagaing City, followed by a 6.7-magnitude aftershock, causing widespread destruction. Myanmar’s ruling military junta confirmed 1,002 fatalities in Mandalay alone, with another 2,400 injured. Ten deaths were also reported in Bangkok, Thailand.
India has developed a large disaster relief capacity since its major contribution to post-2004 Indian Ocean tsunami relief operations. The IAF’s C-130 and C-17 heavy-lift transport aircraft have improved the nation’s capacity to airlift relief supplies, while the Navy’s warships have been instrumental in transporting aid and evacuating civilians.
India had, in September 2023, conducted Operation Sadbhav to help Myanmar in relief from Typhoon Yagi by airlifting 53 tonnes of assistance just hours after receiving Myanmar’s request. Likewise, India started Operation Dost in February 2023 to help Türkiye and Syria with relief from a powerful earthquake, deploying 250 people, expertise, and more than 135 tonnes of relief materials aboard five C-17 aircraft.
Relief Efforts Continued and Plans for Further Support
India has already dispatched its first tranche of aid, comprising:
- Blankets, tarpaulins, and tents
- Sleeping bags and hygiene kits
- Solar lamps and generators
- Water purifiers and ready-to-eat food
- Essential medicines and medical supplies
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar pledged ongoing support and said, “We will continue to monitor the developments and more aid will follow.” The Indian Embassy in Myanmar is in close coordination with the authorities there and in touch with the Indian community of 60,000 citizens in Myanmar.
🇮🇳 dispatches first tranche of urgent humanitarian aid for the people of Myanmar. @IAF_MCC C-130 is carrying blankets, tarpaulin, hygiene kits, sleeping bags, solar lamps, food packets and kitchen set. A search & rescue team and medical team is also accompanying this flight.… https://t.co/ONzOsHFSp2 pic.twitter.com/0p3OtTIlj5
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 29, 2025
This is the most powerful earthquake to hit Myanmar in over a century, and officials expect the death toll to rise further as disrupted communication hampers updates. As India leads Operation Brahma, the nation once again asserts its position as a regional first responder during times of crisis.
