Indian naval ships rushed to cyclone-hit Sri Lanka with relief materials

A Sri Lankan Army soldier walks on the debris of a house during a search operation in Elangapitiya village in Aranayaka, some 72 kilometers north of Colombo, Sri Lanka.

New Delhi: India on Friday extended a helping hand to cyclone-hit Sri Lanka by sending two Naval ships with relief material to the neighbouring country.

INS Sutlej, a survey vessel, sailed for Colombo from Southern Naval Command in Kochi.

Another ship, INS Sunayna, a Naval offshore patrol vessel, will be leaving soon with more relief material, Navy officials said.

Cyclone Roanou has wreaked havoc along Sri Lankan coast. 43 people have been killed and 133 were missing following massive landslides and floods in the Kegalle region.

Schools throughout the country have been closed as a precaution.

IN swings into action, rushes HADR material to Colombo Sri Lanka. IN Ships Sunayna & Sutlej set sail at 0800h pic.twitter.com/6LvHWsJzus

— Captain DK Sharma (@CaptDKS) May 20, 2016

Heavy rainfall is expected in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha as the storm will move away from Sri Lanka tracking northeastward into Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had condoled the deaths on Thursday.

We stand resolutely to help the Government and people of Sri Lanka. Assistance being rushed on emergency basis: PM @narendramodi — PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 19, 2016

(With IANS inputs)