Hundreds of stranded passengers airlifted by IAF from Zanskar, Kargil & Gurez

Srinagar, February 18 (Scoop News) – Indian Air Force today deployed two aircrafts of AN-32 to airlift 370 passengers between Zanskar, Leh, Kargil, Jammu & Srinagar. 54 passengers were airlifted from Kargil to Jammu and 118 passengers from Jammu to Kargil. 50 passengers were airlifted from Kargil to Srinagar and 98 passengers from Srinagar to Kargil. 50 passengers were also airlifted between Leh and Padum (Zanskar). 32 passengers were airlifted from Leh to Padum while 18 passengers were airlifted from Padum to Leh.

Aamir Ali,Coordinator, Disaster Management & OSD, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir today said that IAF also deployed one ALH helicopter today and 122 passengers were airlifted between Bandipora and Gurez. 34 passengers were airlifted from Sonarwani (Bandipora) helipad to Dawar, 10 passengers to Kanzalwan & 11 to Baduab.  46 passengers were lifted from Dawar to Bandipora. 11 passengers from Kanzalwan & 10 from Baduab to Bandipora.

He said that despite a holiday, the Deputy Commissioner, Bandipora, Manzoor Ahmed Lone alongwith Addl. Deputy Commissioner, Mohammed Mujeeb-Ur-Rehman Ghasi, Superintendent of Police, Bandipora, Bashir Ahmed Khan and Liasion Officer, Masood Ahmed attended to the stranded passengers at Sonarwani Helipad, Bandipora. Sub Divisional Magistrate, Gurez, Mohammed Ashraf, Tehsildar Gurez, Bashir Ahmed and SHO Gurez facilitated the passengers at Gurez. The Kargil bound passengers were facilitated by Liaison Officers, Gulzar Hussain and Akbar Ali at Srinagar airport and by Ali Rehmat, Mohammed Yusuf & Sheikh Ali at Jammu airport. At Kargil airport Liasion Officer, Ahsan Ali facilitated the passengers. The passengers were seen-off at Kargil airport by Tashi Punchok Executive Counsellor, Ladakh Autonomous Hill Dev Council (LAHDC) Kargil.

According to Aamir Ali,the Kargil Courier operates thrice a week between Kargil & Srinagar and once a week between Kargil & Jammu, but the Kargil courier as well as helicopter service for Gurez had not operated since 2nd February, due to inclement weather. The stranded passengers were facing a lot of difficulties, due to closure of passes. The passengers airlifted appreciated Hon’ble Chief Minister,  Omar Abdullah, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon, Air Vice Marshall,  P.S. Gill (AVSM, VSM) Air Officer Commanding (AOC) J&K, Udhampur, Group Captain Shankar Srivastava (Air-2) & Flight Lt. Deepika Mishra. The passengers also thanked CEC LAHDC,  Kachu Ahmed Ali Khan, Minister for CA&PD and Transport, Mr Qamar Ali Akhoon, MLA Gurez, Mr Nazir Ahmed Gurezi & MLA Zanskar, Mr Feroze Ahmed for arranging the helicopter flights.

Arrangements have been made for airlifting the remaining stranded passengers between Bandipora & Gurez, as well as the Kargil Courier between Kargil-Srinagar and Kargil-Jammu. The Kargil bound passengers who have purchased tickets of flight No: 10 & 11 for Kargil Courier have been asked to contact the Liaison Officer at Kargil House, at Srinagar & Jammu on Saturday before  8am.

Meanwhile, the stranded passengers of Machhil and Karnah have also appealed Hon’ble Chief Minister that they too should be provided helicopter service, as their areas are cut-off due to heavy snow. Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir assured that the matter would be taken up with State Govt for allotment of tonnage, so that the IAF can be requested to make available to helicopter for the stranded passengers.

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