CHENNAI — India and Myanmar are running a joint disaster-relief exercise in Chennai this week, practising how their forces would work together in a major flood or cyclone. Exercise Rahat Mitra, the integrated India–Myanmar joint exercise for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), is under way from November 5 to 7, IANS reported.

Source: IANS

"Standing with Myanmar in disaster response and relief. Preparing together and working together to enhance interoperability in disaster response, for saving lives, and restoring hope, of the affected people," the Indian Embassy in Myanmar said in a statement posted on X, placing the exercise under India's MAHASAGAR vision — Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions.

Flood columns, rescue boats and instant bridges

During the drill, the Indian Army showcased its HADR capabilities alongside the Indian Navy and the Indian Air Force. Personnel demonstrated the work of Flood Relief Columns and Engineer Task Forces through rescue operations, dewatering of flooded areas and bridge-laying to restore connectivity cut off by water, the Public Relations Officer of the Defence Ministry's Directorate of Public Relations in Chennai said, ANI reported.

Source: ANI

The Chennai exercise follows the eighth India–Myanmar Army-to-Army Staff Talks held at Naypyidaw, where India handed over training simulators to the Myanmar Army, NewKerala reported. For two countries that share a long land border and face the same Bay of Bengal cyclone season, the point of Rahat Mitra is practical: when the next disaster hits either side, relief teams that have already trained together can deploy faster and work to the same drill.

Source: NewKerala