400 Indian Passengers Stranded Due to Ditwah Evacuated From Sri Lanka

Colombo: At least 400 Indian citizens who were stranded at Colombo airport following extreme weather conditions in cyclone-hit Sri Lanka were sent back home on Sunday. Sri Lankan officials said that approximately 150 people were sent back to Delhi on flight C130, while 250 people were sent to Trivandrum on flight IL 76 from Bandaranaike International Airport here.

Both planes arrived in Sri Lanka on Saturday to deliver food and humanitarian aid to flash flood victims.

As Sri Lanka struggles in the wake of powerful cyclone Ditwah, Acting Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Dr Satyanjal Pandey met stranded citizens at the Colombo airport on Saturday.

The Indian High Commission provided food and water to those in need and also assured stranded Indians that New Delhi would facilitate their speedy return home.

Sri Lanka has declared a state of emergency across the island nation after Cyclone Ditwah caused widespread destruction as it left a trail of devastation and damage to infrastructure.

There were severe service disruptions, including widespread flooding, landslides and flight cancellations. The island nation is a popular tourist destination for Indians.

The latest data from the Sri Lanka Disaster Management Center (DMC) at 2am on Sunday showed that at least 212 people had died and 218 were missing in cyclone-induced rainfall, floods and landslides across the island nation since Thursday.

Earlier on Sunday, the Indian High Commission said in a post on

It was stated that any Indian citizen needing assistance at airports or anywhere in Sri Lanka can reach the emergency service at +94 773727832 (also for WhatsApp).