Mandalay: Rescue and relief activities are now taking place in Myanmar under the active leadership of India’s National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), which is a component of Operation Bharma. India, which is the first responder in times of disaster in the neighborhood, has been giving the nation crucial help since the terrible 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck on March 28. The country is now recuperating from this event.

On Wednesday, NDRF Deputy Commander Kunal Tiwari, who is in charge of the search and rescue missions, provided updates on the current activities.

According to Tiwari, the NDRF team has 80 members, four professionally trained dogs, and cutting-edge rigging, lifting, cutting, and bridging equipment.

Tiwari said they were certain they were prepared to tackle the obstacles. He also emphasized the team’s proficiency in overseeing recovery activities, which includes treating the retrieval of mortal remains with care and decency.

“There are 80 people in our team in total. In addition to heavy team tools like rigging, lifting, cutting, and bridges, we have four dogs. We have everything we need,” he remarked.

The NDRF Deputy Commander also discussed the tremendous support from the local population of Myanmar and emphasized the close relationship between India and Myanmar, pointing out that while India has provided assistance, the people of Myanmar have reciprocated with great warmth and respect.

“The people of Myanmar have taken two steps ahead with us, just as India has taken one stride forward to assist Myanmar. They fully support us no matter where we go. Therefore, we are able to continue our job because of the relationship between India and Myanmar,” Towari said.

Tiwari reassured that the team’s primary focus is safety in the event of an aftershock. Every employee has personal protective equipment (PPE), and before starting any task, all safety procedures—such as designating safe areas and escape routes—are closely adhered to.

“Our guiding concept is safety first. We all prepared for it. We are all protected locally since we have quality PPE. We adequately label the safe zone and escape route before beginning any work, and the safety officer is notified,” he said.

Four sectors—Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta—have been established in Mandalay, the city most severely affected by the earthquake. India is responsible for and has made considerable interventions in the Delta sector, which is the most afflicted region; 11 of the 15 approved work sites are in India.

A local monk from Myanmar said he was pleased and thankful for the help, expressing his profound gratitude for India’s efforts. Hussain, another local, also conveyed gratitude, calling the Indian team’s presence a huge relief.

“When you arrived, we felt a tremendous feeling of relief. You Indians put forth a lot of effort. We are content and peaceful. Since NDRF arrived, we have really benefited from it.” May God bless India and its leadership,” he exclaimed.

As of Tuesday, India has sent 625 metric tons of disaster assistance and humanitarian supplies to Myanmar as part of Operation Brahma.

India’s dedication to being a first responder in the area is shown by the operation, which provided crucial medical assistance, search and rescue, and disaster relief after the March 28 earthquake.

In order to address the massive damage brought on by the earthquake and aid Myanmar’s rehabilitation, many sections of the Indian government are working together on Operation Brahma.

Additionally, the Indian Army established a Field Hospital to provide medical assistance to the populace.

As of Thursday evening, the medical team had successfully completed 103 X-ray treatments, over 1,300 laboratory tests, and 23 operations, according to the Indian Army’s announcement.

More than 3,000 verified deaths have been reported in Myanmar after the military declared a ceasefire amid the natural disaster, according to Al Jazeera, which quoted the nation’s television broadcast.