Operation Brahma: India began “Operation Brahma” on Saturday to assist the neighboring country in the wake of the terrible earthquake in Myanmar that killed over a thousand people and wrecked numerous structures in the nation. An airplane carrying 15 tons of relief supplies took out from Hindon Air Force Base at around three in the morning as part of Operation Brahma. Around 8 a.m. IST, it arrived in Yangon. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Saturday that the relief materials were given to the Chief Minister of Yangon by the Indian ambassador in Myanmar, who was present to accept them.
“A couple of aircraft carrying search and rescue personnel and equipment, along with canines, will follow the first aircraft, which departed for Myanmar,” the MEA noted. In total, India has participated in Operation Brahma using two C17 Globemasters and three C130 J Hercules of Air Force. Late at night, two C17s will arrive in Myanmar with a Field Hospital to treat earthquake casualties there.
Why was it named ‘Operation Brahma’?
The MEA explained that the reason the earthquake response measure was named “Operation Brahma” was because Brahma is a god of creation and we are helping the government and people of Myanmar reconstruct their country after the destruction.
According to MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, a field hospital consisting of 118 personnel from Agra is scheduled to depart later on Saturday in addition to the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) being transported by air.
In order to support the neighboring countries, members of the Federal Disaster Contingency Force are being deployed under Operation Brahma with earthquake rescue tools such powerful concrete cutters, drill machines, hammers, plasma cutting machines, etc.
Next 24-48 hours to be ‘very crucial’: MEA
The Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) squad is led by Commandant PK Tiwary of the 8th NDRF unit, which is stationed in Ghaziabad, close to Delhi.
At a press conference hosted by the external affairs ministry, NDRF Deputy Inspector General (Operations) Mohsen Shahedi said reporters that the next 24 to 48 hours were “very crucial” for the force to get “gainfully engaged” and for their “active involvement” on the ground.
