IAF airlifts 313 stranded passengers of Kargil in IL-76

Srinagar, February 07  (Scoop News) –313 stranded passengers of Kargil district were airlifted, today in IL-76, Special aircrafts of Indian Air Force between Leh and Srinagar. The passengers had got stranded, as the Air force AN-32 Kargil Courier service between Kargil-Srinagar and Kargil-Jammu had not operated due to inclement weather since 24th January, except one sortie from Kargil to Srinagar on 30th January. State Government requisitioned the IL-76 aircrafts to airlift the passengers. Since the IL-76 aircraft cannot land at Kargil airport, therefore the District Administration Kargil made special arrangements of JKSRTC buses for ferrying the passengers from Kargil to Leh and from there 171 passengers were airlifted to Srinagar. Similarly from Srinagar 142 passengers were airlifted in the same aircraft to Leh from where they will be transported by road to Kargil in the SRTC buses.

The passengers have expressed their gratitude to the State Government for arranging the facility, as many of the passengers were facing great difficulties. The passengers appreciated Hon’ble Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Minister for CAPD & Transport Qamar Ali Akhoon, Chief Executive Counsellor LAHDC, Kachu Ahmed Ali Khan, MLA Zanskar, Feroze Ahmed, Principal Secy. to CM, BB Vyas, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon, Commissioner Civil Aviation, Capt. S. Katoch, Deputy Commissioner Kargil, M. Raju, Executive Counsellors of LAHDC Kargil, Senior Officials of Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India, especially Director (Air), Ms. Anjali Singh, AOC J&K, AVM, Jasbir Walia, Air Commodore, D.S. Ahluwalia, (SASO), Air-2, Grp. Captain, P.K. Sharma and particularly the untiring efforts of Wing Commander Mishra.

The passengers were seen off at Kargil by Executive Counsellor, Ghulam Rasool, and the passengers were accompanied upto Leh by Counsellor Abdul Rahim, Liaison Officers Ahsan Ali, Abdul Aziz, Iftikhar Hussain and Sub Inspector Mohammed Musa and were received at Srinagar airport by Director, Airport Authority, Capt Raj Malik, SSP Airport, Abdul Rashid, Dy. Commandant CRPF, Nambiar, Liaison Officers, Gulzar Hussain and Akbar Ali.

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