UL to rescue 120 pilgrims stranded in Buddha Gaya

SriLankan flights to Chennai cancelled till Dec 8:

SriLankan Airlines and its code share partner Mihin Lanka have cancelled all flights to Chennai until December 8 due to heavy floods which inundated the airport.

According to SriLankan Airlines, flights UL 121, UL 122, UL 127, UL128, UL 123, UL 124 on December 6, UL 125, UL 126, UL 121, UL 122, UL 127, UL 128, UL 123, UL 124 and UL 125 on December 8 will not operate. Mihin Lanka's flights MJ 129 and 130 have also been cancelled.

Special SriLankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka flights will bring back a group of 120 pilgrims who are stranded in Buddha Gaya due to floods ravaging certain parts of India.

The Buddhist Vihara in Buddha Gaya was providing shelter to the pilgrims.

Buddha Gaya draws hundreds of thousands of Buddhist pilgrims annually, including large numbers from Sri Lanka. The pilgrims were scheduled to travel by road to Chennai and fly to Colombo, but the Chennai airport was shut down due to floods, stranding the pilgrims in Buddha Gaya.

"SriLankan Airlines has promptly responded to an urgent appeal and we are fulfilling our duty as the national carrier. Initially, we tried to reroute these passengers through Calcutta, but given the situation and the stress these senior citizens are under, we thought it best to operate a special flight direct to Buddha Gaya", Captain Suren Ratwatte, CEO, SriLankan Airlines said.

"In the coming days we will expedite the repatriation of other pilgrim groups in South India as well, using special flights, if required. This is an emergency situation and we must respond", he added.

The Airbus A320 aircraft flown by budget carrier Mihin Lanka is scheduled to arrive in Buddha Gaya this morning, December 6, and return to Colombo in the afternoon.

SriLankan's Flight Operations Department has arranged the permits and overflying clearances fast, given the nature of the situation.

High Commisioner, Esala Weerakoon has coordinated matters regarding the pilgrims with the vihara in Buddha Gaya where the pilgrims were sheltered.