PM Modi dials Myanmar junta chief following earthquake

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday telephoned Myanmar junta leader Gen Min Aung Hlaing on Saturday as the 7.7 magnitude earthquake shook the country killing over 1,000 people a day earlier and stated that India stands in solidarity.

"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," Modi said in a post on X.



"Disaster relief material, humanitarian assistance, search & rescue teams are being expeditiously dispatched to the affected areas as part of Operation Brahma," he added.

On Friday, Modi had expressed concern over the situation in the country and said that India stands ready to offer all possible assistance.

India has launched Operation Brahma under which it is providing assistance to neighbouring Myanmar. In the early hours of Saturday, a C17 aircraft of the Indian Air Force left the Hindon Air Force station with 15 tonnes of relief material.

The supplies, which reached the Myanmarese city of Yangon, included tents, sleeping bags, blankets, ready-to-eat meals, water purifiers, solar lamps, generator sets and essential medicines, said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. A search and rescue team and medical team also accompanied the flight.

The relief materials were handed over to Chief Minister of Yangon U Soe Thein by Indian envoy to Myanmar Abhay Thakur.

Later in the day, two more IAF aircraft were loaded with relief material which left the Hindon Air Base for Myanmar. A National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) search and rescue team with 80 members also departed for capital Nay Pyi Taw where they will assist in the rescue operations, Jaishankar said.