The Royal Thai Consulate-General, Kolkata, in collaboration with the Royal Thai Monastery, Buddhagaya, repatriated 342 Thai Buddhist monks and Thai lay persons who were stranded in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar following India's nationwide lockdown measures to stop and prevent the spread of COVID-19.

                   The requests for repatriation flight clearance and vehicle movements to pick up the stranded Thai nationals were put forth by Royal Thai Consulate-General to the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, following which the domestic movement of the Thai nationals was done accordingly in order to relocate the stranded individuals from remote areas along the Buddhist Circuit in Utttar Pradesh and in Bihar to the Royal Thai Monastery, Buddhagaya, designated as the assembly point prior to the final departure.

                   Thorough health checkups were conducted by local government physicians, and all Thai nationals obtained Fit-to-Fly medical certificates which were obligatory to be admitted inside the Thai territory. The Consulate-General also issued certification letters for all the passengers as required by relevant airport authorities in Thailand upon their arrival.

                   On 24 April 2020, Thai Air Asia's chartered repatriation flight No. FD 9123 carrying 171 Thai passengers departed Gaya International Airport at 13.00 hrs. and arrived safely at Don Muang International Airport, Bangkok, Thailand, on the same day at 17.20 hrs. And on 25 April 2020, Thai Air Asia's chartered repatriation flight No. FD 9123 carrying  another171 Thai passengers departed Gaya International Airport at 11.30 hrs. and arrived safely at Don Muang International Airport, Bangkok, Thailand, on the same day at 15.35 hrs.

                   The Royal Thai Consulate-General, Kolkata, owes the success of the repatriation operations to His Excellency Ambassador Chutintorn Gongsakdi, Ambassador of Thailand to India, Venerable Phra Dhammabodhivong, Chief Monk of the Royal Thai Monastery, Buddhagaya, and Head of the Thai Missionary Monks in India-Nepal, as well as venerable caretaker monk of Wat Thai Kushinagar Chalermrat, venerable the chief monk of Wat Thai Chetavan, venerable the chief monk of Wat Suvarnabhumi Buddhajayanti, and Phramaha Nipon Prasandee, Secretary to the Chief Monk of the Royal Thai Monastery, Buddhagaya, for their support and concerted efforts which were essential and determining factors for the success of the above mentioned operations.

Royal Thai Consulate-General, Kolkata,

26 April 2020