Four of the six Odia workers previously stranded in Thailand returned to Odisha on Saturday following a successful rescue operation initiated by the state government from the Southeast Asian country.
An official statement stated that the Directorate of Odisha Paribar, under the Odia Language, Literature & Culture Department, took immediate measures based on the instructions of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi to ensure the safe return of the citizens.
“Four of them returned to the state. Two others are still in Thailand over certain visa problems. Efforts are on to bring them back,” an official said.
The four individuals who have arrived safely in Odisha are Jayanta Kumar Mallick, Hemanta Kumar Behera, Manaranjan Sahu, and Bijay Kumar Swain.
The group of six, hailing from the Kendrapara and Bhadrak districts, had travelled to Thailand in August 2025 to seek employment in a plywood company. However, they soon found themselves stranded and in distress.
The workers alleged that the company owner had withheld their wages, leaving them in severe financial hardship. Facing these dire circumstances, they turned to social media to appeal to the Odisha government for intervention and a safe passage home.
Responding to their plea, the state government launched a coordinated effort, involving the Ministry of External Affairs, Office of the Chief Resident Commissioner in New Delhi, the Directorate of Odisha Paribar, the Labour & Employees’ State Insurance Department and the district administrations of Kendrapara and Bhadrak.
“Through the joint efforts, four of the stranded youths have now been repatriated,” the official said.
