New Delhi [India], December 2 (ANI): India granted rapid clearance for a Pakistan aid flight carrying relief material to cyclone-hit Sri Lanka, rejecting as “baseless and misleading” Pakistani media claims that New Delhi had denied permission to use its airspace.
Officials said Pakistan submitted the overflight request at approximately 1300 hrs (IST) on Monday seeking same-day permission to fly over Indian airspace for humanitarian assistance. Given the relief purpose, India processed the request with exceptional speed and officially communicated permission to the Government of Pakistan at 1730 hrs (IST) on Monday, handling the clearance within a minimal four-hour notice period.
Officials emphasised the clearance was purely humanitarian, extended despite Pakistan maintaining a ban on Indian airlines’ use of Pakistani airspace. The Indian response came after reports in some Pakistani outlets alleging India “refused to grant airspace” for the aid flights, which officials categorically labelled as unfounded.
Sri Lanka has suffered massive floods caused by Cyclone Ditwah, with at least 334 people confirmed dead as authorities continue to battle rising floodwaters in parts of Colombo. India has sent 53 tonnes of relief material to Sri Lanka under Operation Sagar Bandhu as part of its emergency response.
According to an official release, India delivered 9.5 tonnes of emergency rations via two Indian Navy ships in Colombo; deployed three Indian Air Force aircraft to airlift 31.5 tonnes of relief items including tents, tarpaulins, blankets, hygiene kits, ready-to-eat food, medicines and surgical equipment; sent two BHISHM cubes with a five-person medical team for on-site training; and deployed an 80-person Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). An additional 12 tonnes of supplies were dispatched on Indian Navy Ship Sukanya at Trincomalee, bringing the total to 53 tonnes. (ANI)
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