India and Myanmar hold inaugural tri-services disaster relief exercise in Chennai
The two-day Rahat Mitra exercise aimed to improve coordination and exchange best practices for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.
Defence personnel from India and Myanmar participated in the first bilateral tri-services Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Exercise Rahat Mitra in Chennai last week, according to a Defence Ministry statement reported by Telangana Today.
The two-day programme, held on November 5-6, involved the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force alongside a delegation from the Myanmar Defence Forces.
The exercise began with sessions on shared planning and an overview of disaster relief tools. A Table-Top Exercise involving a severe cyclone scenario allowed for discussions regarding joint management protocols and response mechanisms.
During the event, the Indian Army demonstrated bridge-laying and obstacle clearance, while participants visited INS Sukanya to study shipborne relief capabilities. The Indian Navy's Flood Relief Teams also showcased specialised equipment for flood scenarios.
On the second day, the Indian Defence Forces demonstrated multi-domain capabilities across land, air, and maritime sectors. This included maritime search and rescue manoeuvres using a Chetak helicopter and INS Bitra, and casualty evacuation drills where Commodore Aung Niang Win and two Myanmar officers boarded an Indian Air Force ALH.
The Ministry of Defence stated that the exercise provided a platform for both nations to exchange operational experiences and enhance mutual understanding for executing disaster response operations.