In a dramatic scene that captured global attention, a Sri Lankan man survived a night clinging to a palm tree as fast-rising floodwaters swallowed the land beneath him. Stranded in Avukana amid the destructive downpour brought by Cyclone Ditwah, he was finally rescued by the Sri Lankan Air Force after spending more than twenty-four hours above the dangerous waters. His ordeal highlights the staggering scale of devastation hitting the region.

Cyclone Ditwah continues to ravage parts of South Asia, unleashing torrential rains, deadly landslides, and historic flooding. More than 190 people have reportedly lost their lives, entire communities remain underwater, and thousands have been displaced across Sri Lanka. The crisis has grown so severe that both Sri Lankan and Indian forces have launched extensive rescue and relief missions to save those trapped by the storm.

India’s Air Force deployed Mi-17 helicopters to evacuate 45 stranded passengers from the heavily impacted Kotmale region to Colombo. Those rescued included 12 Indian nationals, citizens from over ten countries, four infants, and several individuals in critical condition. Many evacuees expressed heartfelt gratitude to the crews who risked their own safety to reach them.

The Indian operation extended further, delivering medical teams, relief supplies, and specialized rescue units through Operation Sagar Bandhu. On the ground, 57 Sri Lankan Army personnel were airlifted to fuel search-and-rescue operations across flooded villages, areas cut off from roads, and communities still waiting for help.

This unfolding humanitarian disaster serves as another reminder of the increasing vulnerability of nations in the Indian Ocean region to extreme weather events. Yet amid the destruction, the swift action of rescue teams — from the man pulled off a palm tree to the dozens saved by coordinated cross-border operations — stands as a powerful testament to human resilience, cooperation, and the unyielding will to protect life.