Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Myanmar’s military chief Min Aung Hlaing on Saturday, offering his deepest sympathies for lives lost in the devastating earthquake. Posting his message on social media site X, Modi reiterated India’s resolve to help its neighbor in this crisis.
India’s Support and ‘Operation Brahma’
“As a close friend and neighbor, India stands with the people of Myanmar at this trying moment,” Modi tweeted on X. To support Myanmar, India has quickly initiated ‘Operation Brahma,’ under which disaster relief material, humanitarian aid, and search-and-rescue teams are being quickly dispatched. “Disaster relief material, humanitarian assistance, search & rescue teams are being expeditiously sent to the affected areas as part of #OperationBrahma,” he further added. Under this operation, India has already supplied 15 tonnes of relief materials to Myanmar.
Death Toll Tops 1,000
The catastrophic 7.7-magnitude earthquake, which hit Myanmar on Friday near Mandalay, resulted in an increasing death toll, which stands at more than 1,000. The government reported 1,002 deaths, 2,376 injured, and 30 others missing, with more numbers expected to rise. Widespread destruction was caused by the earthquake, leaving buildings in ruins, destroying roads and bridges, and rupturing a dam.
Emergency responders worked on Saturday in Myanmar’s capital city of Naypyidaw to reopen roads, though power, phone, and internet communications remained down across much of the region. Government-owned housing blocks, some of the worst-hit places, were closed by officials.
Impact in Thailand
The powerful earthquake also caused shaking in neighboring Thailand, particularly greater Bangkok, which is inhabited by about 17 million residents. Tremors caused extensive damage, with six deaths and 26 injuries confirmed by city authorities, as well as 47 others remaining missing—most from a construction site close to the Chatuchak market.
As heavy machinery was rolled in to remove the rubble, hopes for those remaining unaccounted for dwindled. Damage has been reported in northern Thailand, including Chiang Mai, where residential homes, temples, and hospitals were badly damaged structurally. Bangkok, however, is the only city with confirmed victims.
