India, Myanmar hold first tri-services HADR exercise in Chennai
By Aroonim Bhuyan
New Delhi. India and Myanmar have concluded their first bilateral Tri-Services Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise, ‘RAHAT MITRA’, in Chennai, aimed at strengthening operational coordination and improving their ability to respond jointly to natural disasters and other humanitarian emergencies.
According to a statement issued by India’s Ministry of Defence on November 9, the two-day exercise, held on November 5 and 6, brought together personnel from the Indian Army, Navy and Air Force, along with a delegation from the Myanmar Defence Forces. It focused on enhancing interoperability, familiarising the two sides with each other’s disaster-response capabilities and sharing best practices in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.
The exercise began with joint planning sessions and familiarisation with the HADR capabilities of the participating forces. A Table-Top Exercise based on a severe cyclone scenario provided an opportunity to discuss coordinated response mechanisms and joint disaster-management protocols.
The Myanmar delegation also witnessed demonstrations of the Indian Army’s obstacle-clearance and bridge-laying capabilities, which are critical for restoring access to disaster-affected areas. It visited the Indian Navy’s offshore patrol vessel INS Sukanya to understand the maritime force’s shipborne capabilities for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief.
The second day featured demonstrations of India’s multi-domain HADR capabilities, highlighting the coordination required among maritime, land and air forces during disaster-response operations.
The Indian Navy’s INS Adyar and the Communication Network Centre in Chennai showcased shore-based disaster-response arrangements and communication infrastructure used to support command and control during emergencies. The Military Hospital in Chennai demonstrated field medical triage procedures and the coordinated management of disaster-relief camps.
The Navy’s flood relief teams displayed specialised equipment and capabilities for conducting rescue and relief operations in flood-affected areas. Maritime search-and-rescue capabilities were also demonstrated through coordinated manoeuvres involving a Chetak helicopter and INS Bitra.
The Indian Air Force showcased its casualty-evacuation capabilities through an airborne demonstration involving an advanced light helicopter (ALH). Commodore Aung Niang Win, along with two other officers from the Myanmar delegation, were onboard the helicopter during the demonstration.
The exercise provided a platform for the armed forces of the two neighbouring countries to exchange operational experiences and develop a better understanding of each other’s procedures and capabilities in responding to natural disasters. It also highlighted the importance of integrated planning, effective communication and coordination among military services in delivering timely assistance during emergencies.
The inaugural edition of Rahat Mitra marks another step in expanding India-Myanmar defence engagement beyond conventional military cooperation to include humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Given the vulnerability of the region to cyclones, floods, earthquakes and other natural disasters, improved coordination between the two militaries could strengthen their ability to undertake relief, rescue and recovery operations.
The successful conclusion of the exercise reaffirmed the commitment of both countries to strengthening bilateral defence cooperation and enhancing preparedness for humanitarian emergencies. It also underlined their shared interest in promoting regional stability, maritime cooperation and effective disaster response across the region.
