India sends medicines, Army medical personnel to Myanmar

New Delhi, May 17 : Responding to a request by the Myanmar authorities, India on Saturday sent a team of 50 Army medical personnel and a fresh planeload of medicines to the cyclone-battered country.

An IAF IL-76 medium-haul transport aircraft left here for Yangon carrying a 50-member Indian Army medical team to carry out relief work in the worst affected Irrawady valley, officials said here.

The team comprising doctors and paramedics is carrying six tonnes of medicines and surgical equipment to treat patients in the affected areas, they said.

India is only the second country after Thailand to dispatch army medical teams to Myanmar since cyclone Nargis struck the southwest delta region of the country.

New Delhi's response came after the Myanmar military junta sent in an SOS on Tuesday, sources said.

India has already sent over 12 tonnes of relief material comprising tents, blankets, medicines, water purifiers and other items to Myanmar.

"The Myanmar government will decide where to station the medical teams and provide transport for them," an official source said.

Sources said the Army medical personnel are carrying generators, water purifiers and tents to set up medical centres.

ANI