PM Modi Assures Myanmar of Support in Earthquake Aftermath During BIMSTEC Summit Meet
Bangkok, Apr 4:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday assured Myanmar’s Senior General Min Aung Hlaing of India’s full support in helping the country recover from the devastating earthquake that recently struck, claiming over 3,000 lives and injuring nearly 5,000 people.
The two leaders met on the sidelines of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Summit in Bangkok. This marked Modi’s first meeting with the Myanmar military chief since the latter assumed power following the February 2021 coup.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister said, “Met Senior General Min Aung Hlaing of Myanmar on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok. Once again expressed condolences on the loss of lives and damage to property in the wake of the recent earthquake. India is doing whatever is possible to assist our sisters and brothers of Myanmar in this critical time.”
The leaders also discussed key areas of bilateral cooperation, including connectivity, capacity building, and infrastructure development. According to official sources, the Senior General expressed gratitude for India’s swift humanitarian response and lauded Prime Minister Modi’s leadership during India’s own recovery from the 2001 Bhuj earthquake.
India has launched Operation Brahma to support relief and rescue operations in Myanmar. The initiative includes the deployment of military field hospitals in Mandalay—close to the earthquake’s epicentre—as well as teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) aiding in rescue and relief work.
Sources also confirmed that a senior official from the Myanmar administration visited the Indian medical facility in Mandalay, underscoring the cooperation between the two nations.
During the 35-minute meeting, PM Modi reiterated India’s commitment to stand by Myanmar in this time of need, stating, “We are ready to help.”
The BIMSTEC summit saw member nations—including India, Thailand, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, and Sri Lanka—discuss critical issues such as disaster preparedness and regional connectivity. Myanmar’s strategic location remains central to BIMSTEC’s vision for enhanced connectivity in the region.
While China has publicly quantified its aid contributions to Myanmar, India has maintained its stance of not assigning monetary values to humanitarian efforts, reaffirming its commitment to unconditional support in times of crisis.
