India Defence News, Indian Navy News, Visakhapatnam, March 29, 2025 – The Indian Navy has launched a vital humanitarian mission, dispatching INS Satpura and INS Savitri with 40 tonnes of aid to Yangon port in Myanmar. This effort, part of ‘Operation Brahma,’ responds to the devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck near Mandalay on March 28, 2025, leaving over 1,000 dead and straining local resources.
Naval Deployment Under Operation Brahma
On March 29, 2025, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar announced the departure of INS Satpura and INS Savitri from India’s Eastern Naval Command. Loaded with 40 tonnes of humanitarian supplies, these ships are en route to assist Myanmar’s quake-affected population. The mission, dubbed ‘Operation Brahma,’ reflects India’s rapid response ethos, with the Navy acting as a key pillar in delivering aid to its neighbor within hours of the disaster.
#OperationBrahma @indiannavy ships INS Satpura & INS Savitri are carrying 40 tonnes of humanitarian aid and headed for the port of Yangon.
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) March 29, 2025
🇮🇳 🇲🇲 pic.twitter.com/MJcG9Dbgnj
Humanitarian Cargo for Crisis Relief
The 40-tonne consignment includes essentials like emergency food rations, medical supplies, tents, and water purification units—critical for a region reeling from the quake and a subsequent 4.7-magnitude aftershock. Departing from Visakhapatnam, the ships are expected to reach Yangon soon, where the aid will be handed over to local authorities, including Yangon’s Chief Minister U Soe Thein, to support rescue and recovery efforts.
India’s Regional Leadership in Action
This naval deployment underscores India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy and its commitment to being a first responder in the region. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a call with Myanmar’s military leader General Min Aung Hlaing, expressed solidarity, stating India stands “shoulder to shoulder” with Myanmar. The operation builds on the Indian Navy’s legacy of humanitarian missions, such as Operation Karuna (2023) and Operation Sadbhav (2024), reinforcing its strategic soft power in the Indo-Pacific.
INS Satpura and INS Savitri: Vessels of Hope
INS Satpura, a Shivalik-class stealth frigate, and INS Savitri, a patrol vessel, bring proven capabilities to this mission. Satpura, with its advanced stealth features and prior HADR experience (e.g., Typhoon Yagi relief in 2024), complements Savitri’s agility in coastal operations. Together, they showcase the Navy’s operational flexibility, supported by the Rs 1,80,000 crore capital outlay in the 2025-26 budget, which enhances such dual-purpose deployments.
Strengthening Indo-Myanmar Bonds
Beyond immediate relief, this mission deepens India-Myanmar ties, vital given their shared 1,643-km border and mutual security interests. As part of a broader aid effort—totaling 137 tonnes, including Army and NDRF contributions—the Navy’s role highlights India’s multifaceted response. For "India Defence News" readers, this operation is a testament to the Navy’s readiness, blending maritime strength with humanitarian resolve.