Rejoicing victory over #ThaiCaveRescue mission, Thailand expresses profound gratitude to India for immense support
Thailand, July 11: Reaching a successful climax, the 12 boys of the Wild Boar soccer team and their coach were effectively rescued by the Thai navy after 18 days of being trapped in the flooded cave. The Thai Navy Seals, who have been running the operation, confirmed that all 13 were out.
The diving rescue team was comprised of 13 foreign divers and five members of the Thai Navy SEALs. The team began its first attempt on Sunday, pairing each boy with two divers. The boys were equipped with full-face masks, which are specifically designed for beginner divers. And the pros who accompanied them carried the boys’ oxygen tanks.
Charge d'Affaires of the Royal Thai Embassy in India Apirat Sugondhabhirom on Tuesday expressed his gratitude to India for offering its assistance in the ongoing rescue operations of the members of a Wild Boars soccer team stranded in a flooded cave in northern Thailand.
Speaking to the media Apirat said, "I would like to thank India for offering its help. The Royal Thai Embassy has been receiving many messages from our Indian friends caring for our children trapped in the cave. The gesture that India has shown to us will not be forgotten."
The Indian embassy in Bangkok informed the Thai authorities that the Kirloskar Brothers, an Indian company with expertise in pumping and flood management, can help drain out excess water from the cave. "The (Thai) Ministry of Foreign Affairs thanked for the generous offer and have conveyed this to the interior ministry. We will not forget this help," Apirat noted.
The experts from Pune headquarters gave technical support in the operations to rescue a football team trapped inside the cave in Thailand. The experts were present experts were on site at the cave in Tham Luang since July 5 and offered their technical inputs in dewatering. Offering to support the team with high capacity Autoprime dewatering pumps, the KBL proposed four specialized Kirloskarvadi plants in Maharashtra to be airlifted to Thailand.
Deputy Chief of Mission, has lauded Young 25 year old coach Ekapol Chantawongwas who was Buddhist monk before joining the team, he used his knowledge of meditation to keep the boys calm. Thailand has learned Buddhist wisdom from India through Lord Buddha.
Ekapol, also known as “Ake,” in close circle, was trapped with the team of 12 boys — ranging 11 to 16 years of age — in northern Thailand’s Tham Luang NangNon cave since June 23, when they went exploring after a practice game.
The team was stuck without food for more than a week until rescuers discovered them alive. Ekapol lived with extended family members for a short time after his family’s deaths, but he was “sad and lonely” so he was sent to a Buddhist temple for training to be a monk, his aunt, Umporn Sriwichai, told Australian media.
Hailing victory to the most dreadful and daring rescue mission, the Thai Navy Seals have done a commendable job. Three navy seals and a doctor, who had been with the boys, emerged safely from the cave several hours later. The four boys and their coach rescued on Tuesday have been airlifted to hospital to join their eight teammates rescued on Sunday and Monday.
The impressive story of the boys who hiked into the Tham Luang Nang Non-cave system on June 23 and then became trapped by floodwaters has riveted people around the world. It took an increasingly happy turn over the last three days, as an international team of divers brought out the boys in three stages.
The news has been greeted by global jubilation and the rescue workers have been lauded by world leaders. Donald Trump tweeted “great job” and Theresa May said: “The world was watching and will be saluting the bravery of all those involved.”