If not roads, travel through sky! Ever ready to rescue, IAF airlifts 514 stranded passengers in Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar, March 7: The white blanket of snow has undoubtedly given a scenic beauty to the state of Jammu and Kashmir this winter but it has also led to many stranded moments for the visitors. The Indian Air Force on Wednesday airlifted around 514 passengers in separate sorties in Jammu and Kashmir. Due to the closure of the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh road, the stranded passengers of Kargil at Jammu and Srinagar were provided the facility of AN-32 aircraft, which had not operated for the last few days due to bad weather.

 

As many as 514 stranded passengers were Wednesday airlifted in separate sorties by the Indian Air Force (IAF) in Jammu and Kashmir, an official said. "As many as 105 passengers were airlifted in two sorties from Srinagar to Kargil, 41 passengers from Kargil to Srinagar, 62 passengers from Jammu to Kargil and eight from Kargil to Jammu," State Coordinator, Kargil Courier Service, Aamir Ali said.

"Besides 298 passengers, including children and infants were airlifted from Udhampur to Leh," he added.

The passengers expressed their gratitude to the Chairman of Legislative Council Haji Anayat Ali and Chief Executive Counsellor LAHDC Kargil Feroz Khan for facilitating the sorties.

The passengers were assisted by Liaison Officers Mohammed Yusuf at Jammu, Assad Ali at Srinagar and Anwar Hussain at Kargil, along with their team of Assistant Liaison Officers. One sortie of IL-76 has been arranged from Srinagar to Leh on March 7.

The passengers who have already purchased the tickets have been advised to contact the concerned Liaison Officer Kargil Courier Service at Kargil House Bemina, Srinagar, Ali said.