Indian Army builds third Bailey bridge in Sri Lanka, restoring critical connectivity after Cyclone Ditwah
New Delhi, January 18. The Indian Army’s Engineer Task Force has completed the construction of a third Bailey bridge in Sri Lanka as part of post-cyclone recovery efforts, further strengthening India’s humanitarian assistance to the island nation.
The newly built 120-foot-long bridge spans a key stretch of the B-492 highway in Sri Lanka’s Central Province, reconnecting the Kandy and Nuwara Eliya districts. The route had remained disrupted for more than a month after Cyclone Ditwah caused extensive damage to infrastructure, cutting off a vital transport link for local communities.
This latest achievement follows the earlier installation of two Bailey bridges in the Jaffna and Kandy regions. Together, the bridges have restored road connectivity, eased access to essential services, and brought significant relief to areas severely affected by the cyclone.
The engineering works were undertaken under Operation Sagar Bandhu, underscoring India’s swift humanitarian assistance and disaster-relief response. The Indian Army was deployed at short notice to provide specialised engineering support, highlighting New Delhi’s commitment to assisting Sri Lanka during times of crisis.