Bhutan Border Closed for West Bengal Polls; Thousands of Indian Workers Return Home
Following the announcement, a large number of Indian labourers working in Bhutan rushed to return to India before the closure. Workers were seen exiting through key border points including Phuentsholing, Gelephu, Samdrup Jongkhar, and Samtse. Ad1
According to sources, nearly 43,000 Indian workers had returned to India by the afternoon, with the number rising to an estimated 69,000 by the end of the day. These workers, hailing from various parts of India, are employed across different sectors in Bhutan.
The dual factors of participating in the elections and the temporary border closure prompted the mass return. At Phuentsholing, long queues of workers stretched up to nearly two kilometres, drawing attention and curiosity among local residents. Ad2
Authorities have implemented the closure as part of routine security measures to ensure the smooth conduct of the electoral process in the neighbouring state. Movement of workers continued steadily through designated exit points until the final hours before the border was sealed.
