Myanmar earthquake: India’s NDRF team recovers seven bodies at Mandalay under ‘Operation Brahma’
PTC Web Desk: The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) has retrieved seven bodies from buildings flattened by a powerful earthquake in Myanmar’s Mandalay region, according to official sources. The NDRF team, deployed under the humanitarian mission ‘Operation Brahma,’ was assigned 13 buildings in Sector D of Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, located around 65 km from Naypyidaw airport.
Myanmar was struck by a catastrophic 7.7-magnitude earthquake on Friday, causing extensive damage and claiming approximately 1,700 lives so far. The Myanmarese government has divided affected zones among various international rescue teams to expedite relief and recovery efforts.
The 80-member NDRF team, which arrived in Myanmar on Saturday, has been working tirelessly at multiple locations, including U Hla Thein Monastery, where around 170 monks are reportedly trapped. Three bodies have been recovered from this site alone. Equipped with plasma cutters, hammers, and advanced search gear, the team has also deployed four trained sniffer dogs to detect signs of life—though hopes of survival appear dim.
With soaring temperatures in Myanmar, authorities are prioritizing swift body recovery to prevent potential disease outbreaks. Photos shared by the Indian Embassy in Yangon show NDRF personnel in orange rescue uniforms cutting through concrete debris as part of their operations.
Meanwhile, Myanmar government spokesperson Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun told state-run MRTV that the death toll has risen to 1,700, with over 3,400 injured and 300 individuals still missing.
- With inputs from agencies
