The Indian Army’s Field Hospital team, deployed under Operation Brahma to aid earthquake victims in Myanmar, returned to India late Tuesday night, marking the successful completion of a critical humanitarian mission.
The team, which provided medical assistance in the quake-struck city of Mandalay, landed at Hindon Air Force Base. Their deployment was part of India’s broader humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) efforts in response to the devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that hit Myanmar recently.
Brigadier Naveen Kumar, Commander of the 50 Parachute Brigade, briefed ANI on the operation’s scope. “Initially, we deployed a 118-member contingent, which later grew to 123 as the situation demanded more specialized support,” he said. The team included surgeons, trauma care experts, laboratory technicians, and radiologists.
The Indian medical unit established a unique dual-operation theatre setup capable of treating two critical patients simultaneously under field conditions. “As confidence in Indian medical facilities grew, even local hospitals began referring patients to our doctors,” Brig Kumar noted, adding that the team conducted around 65 major surgeries during the mission.
Lt Col Jagneet Gill, Commanding Officer of the Para Field Hospital, highlighted that the unit is trained for international HADR operations. “We have previously been part of missions in Nepal and Turkey. We were well-prepared, and the support from the people and government of Myanmar was overwhelming,” he said.
Operation Brahma extended beyond Mandalay, offering relief to the Indian diaspora in the Yangon region. The Embassy of India in Myanmar, led by Ambassador Abhay Thakur, handed over 15 tonnes of rice, cooking oil, and food supplies to local relief organizations. Additionally, the Consulate General in Mandalay contributed a generator, water purifier, and cooking oil to the Ambika temple kitchen, which serves meals to around 4,000 people daily.
India’s swift and compassionate response through Operation Brahma has not only provided vital medical aid but also strengthened people-to-people ties with Myanmar in a time of crisis.
