LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1622
TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.09.2020
BRINGING BACK INDIANS STUCK IN BHUTAN
1622. SHRI NISITH PRAMANIK:
Will the Minister of External Affairs be pleased to state:
the details of steps taken for bringing back Indian nationals stuck in Bhutan, specially a large number of people of Coochbehar who are residents of West Bengal?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
[SHRI V. MURALEEDHARAN]
Government have been taking proactive measures to facilitate the return of Indian nationals stranded in Bhutan due to COVID-19 related restrictions. Special efforts were made to identify and register Indians in Bhutan who wished to return to India, including
through online registration and holding special registration camps. In addition, 24X7 helpline telephone numbers were set up. Special transport arrangements, both by land and air, were made to repatriate registered Indians to their respective States, in close
coordination with the concerned State Governments. A total of 5199 Indians have been repatriated from Bhutan as on 16 September 2020. These include 2034 Indians who are residents of Cooch Behar in West Bengal.
***