MEDAN | INDATANEWS.COM - A massive tsunami wave struck Marina Beach in Chennai, India, on the morning of December 26, 2004. The wave swept away fishermen as well as a group of children who were playing cricket at the time. At the same time, people in numerous other areas around the Indian Ocean, including foreign tourists on the beaches of Thailand and Indonesia, were confronted with a similar catastrophe.
Former
Indian Ambassador to Thailand Suchitra Durai described the December 2004
Indian Ocean tsunami as one of the largest natural disasters of the past several decades. The disaster claimed nearly a quarter of a million lives and forced around two million people in 14 countries across the
Indo-Pacific region to flee their homes.
The disaster not only left widespread destruction and a devastating loss of life, but also became a major turning point for India as it sought to strengthen its institutional capacity for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, known as Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR).
The 2004 Tsunami as a Test for
IndiaIndia itself was affected by the tsunami, particularly in the coastal regions of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, as well as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. At the same time, India began providing assistance to several affected countries in South and Southeast Asia, including Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Thailand and Indonesia.
India conducted five
HADR operations simultaneously. Two missions took place on
Indian territory, while three others were directed toward affected countries outside
India. The five operations included Operation Madad along the southern
Indian coast, Operation Sea Waves in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Operation Castor in the Maldives, Operation Rainbow in Sri Lanka and Operation Gambhir in Indonesia.
All three branches of the Indian armed forces, along with the Indian Coast Guard, were involved in the missions. India deployed more than 40 ships, several transport aircraft and helicopters, as well as more than 20,000 military personnel for disaster relief operations.
The rapid response strengthened
India's position as one of the credible first responders in the
Indo-Pacific region. The experience subsequently led to the strengthening of
India's disaster-management system through the Disaster Management Act 2005, which was passed by the
Indian Parliament.
The legislation created a legal and institutional framework to improve preparedness, mitigation and disaster response at the national, state and district levels. The Indian government also established the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) as a specialized unit for responding to various types of disasters.
The 2004 tsunami also brought the Australian,
Indian, Japanese and U.S. navies together in coordinating
humanitarian assistance. That cooperation later developed into one of the important foundations for the emergence of the Quad.
"India has dealt with a number of major natural disasters over the past several decades, both in its immediate neighborhood and in more distant regions," said Suchitra Durai.
From Operation Neer to
Operation BrahmaIndia's experience with HADR missions continued to evolve after the 2004 tsunami. In December 2014, India launched Operation Neer to assist the Maldives after the country's sole desalination plant was damaged.
The
Indian Air Force and
Indian Navy worked around the clock to deliver more than 1,500 tonnes of drinking water to the Maldives.
India was the first country to respond to the Maldives' request for assistance.
"When Nepal was struck by a major earthquake in April 2015, India launched the comprehensive rescue and relief mission Operation Maitri within six hours of the first tremors. Thousands of stranded Indians and nationals of other countries were evacuated by air and land, while hundreds of tonnes of essential supplies were delivered. Several field hospitals were established. After the relief operation was completed, India put together a comprehensive rehabilitation and reconstruction package worth around US$2 billion for Nepal," Suchitra Durai explained.
India once again demonstrated its
HADR capabilities when a major earthquake struck Myanmar in late March 2025. The
Indian government launched
Operation Brahma, a joint mission involving all three branches of the armed forces together with the NDRF.
As part of the mission, India delivered more than 750 tonnes of materials and equipment, including essential medicines and food. Medical teams operated a field hospital in Mandalay, while engineering teams conducted surveys and assessed structural damage.
Operation Brahma demonstrated a disaster-relief model in which different sectors of the
Indian government worked together through an integrated operation.
"By the end of 2025, India provided extensive assistance to Sri Lanka following the devastating Cyclone Ditwah through Operation Sagar Bandhu. Food, equipment, medicines and other essential supplies were provided. More than 1,000 tonnes of dry food were also delivered," said Suchitra Durai.
India has also expanded its
HADR operations beyond the
Indo-Pacific region. When Türkiye and Syria were struck by major earthquakes in 2023,
India sent assistance under Operation Dost.
India deployed more than 250 search-and-rescue (SAR) personnel, medical teams and sniffer-dog units to the two countries. India also supplied various materials needed for rescue operations and humanitarian assistance.
"In March 2019,
India provided
HADR support to Mozambique after the country was struck by a cyclone, and in 2023 it provided assistance to Malawi after the country was affected by a tropical cyclone," said Suchitra Durai.
On June 26, 2026, India once again carried out one of its largest HADR missions to date, sending 30 tonnes of humanitarian relief supplies to earthquake-hit Venezuela. The supplies were transported to Venezuela aboard two C-17 transport aircraft. On board were 41 personnel, including experienced rescue workers and medical personnel.
HADR as Part of
India's Foreign Policy
India is also using its experience with natural disasters to strengthen its humanitarian diplomacy. During the Covid-19 pandemic, India delivered 300 million vaccine doses to 99 countries and two United Nations entities under the Vaccine Maitri initiative beginning in January 2021. India also provided essential medicines and medical assistance.
Suchitra Durai, who previously served as
India's High Commissioner to Kenya, said
HADR had evolved from an occasional measure into an integral part of
India's global engagement.
According to her, India has incorporated HADR as an important component of its foreign and security policy under the doctrine of Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR). Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the doctrine in March 2015 during his visit to Mauritius.
SAGAR subsequently became one of the foundations of
India's approach to the
Indian Ocean region.
India later incorporated
HADR into its
Indo-Pacific Vision and the
Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), which was introduced in 2019. In March 2025, Modi further expanded this vision through the MAHASAGAR concept.
India's approach to disaster preparedness is not limited to responding after disasters occur. The country also promotes international cooperation in disaster prevention and mitigation, including through its contribution to international tsunami early-warning systems and the establishment of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).
The CDRI now has 60 member states and works with 25 small island developing states. The organization promotes the development of infrastructure that is more resilient to natural disasters, including schools, hospitals and residential buildings.
According to Suchitra, the combination of rapid disaster relief and long-term capacity building has enabled India to increasingly gain the trust of countries that need assistance.
"By providing rapid, needs-based assistance in times of crisis while simultaneously building capacity for mutual benefit,
India is seen as a reliable first responder and a force for global public good," said Suchitra Durai.
India's development in the HADR field since the Indian Ocean tsunami on December 26, 2004, demonstrates a significant transformation. India is no longer focused solely on managing disasters within its own territory, but has also developed the ability to rapidly assist other countries.
These experiences have simultaneously strengthened
India's role as one of the regional powers actively engaged in
humanitarian assistance, disaster management, resilient infrastructure development and international cooperation. With its military capabilities, medical resources, logistical capacity and steadily expanding network of international partnerships,
India is seeking to establish
HADR as an important instrument for promoting trust and solidarity across the
Indo-Pacific region and beyond.
(IDNC)REPORTER: Darmailawati | EDITOR: Fik Sagala