Operation Brahma: India sends two naval ships to earthquake-hit Myanmar

India on Saturday intensified its efforts of rescue and rehabilitation work in earthquake-hit Myanmar by sending two naval ships carrying humanitarian aid to the neighbouring country.

Under ‘Operation Brahma’, India will also airlift a field hospital, the External Affairs Ministry said.

"Indian Navy ships INS Satpura and INS Savitri are carrying 40 tonnes of humanitarian aid and headed for the port of Yangon," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar wrote on X.

Besides the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) personnel and material being sent via aircraft, a field hospital with 118 members is expected to leave from Agra later on Saturday, said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal.

He said two more naval ships would follow under the operation.

The MEA spokesperson said India has actively been playing the role of "first responder" in such situations during national disasters and natural calamities.

"Brahma is the God of creation. At a time when we are extending a helping hand to the Government of Myanmar, to the people of Myanmar to rebuild their country in the wake of the devastation, this particular name of the operation has a special resonance, a special meaning,” Jaiswal said at a media interaction.

India has already sent three Air Force aircraft carrying 1,500 tonne of relief material each to Myanmar. The relief material included solar lamps, food packets, hygiene kits, generators, essential medicines, tents, blankets, sleeping bags and kitchen sets.

A team of 80 personnel of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF0 has also reached Naypyitaw.

At least 1,600 people died and over 3,000 others were injured after a powerful 7.7 magnitude earthquake ripped through Myanmar and Thailand on Friday afternoon.

Scores of people are feared to have been trapped under the debris of high-rise buildings that collapsed during the earthquake.