IAF airlifts 1461 passengers stranded on Jammu-Srinagar Highway

Jammu, Feb 28 (UNI) The Army and Air Force today airlifted 1461 passengers stranded on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, which remained closed for the eighth consecutive day due to landslides triggered by rains at Penthal, to their destinations in Jammu and Srinagar.

Divisional Commissioner Pramod Jain, who is supervising the two-day Operation 'Hamsafar' launched by the two Services, said 1,151 valley-bound passengers were airlifted from Jammu to Srinagar by this evening.

Meanwhile, 310 passengers were airlifted to Srinagar from Udhampur this afternoon, he added.

Four AN-32 and IL-76 aircraft have been pressed into service to ferry the passengers between the summer and winter capitals of the state.

Arrangements have been finalised to airlift all stranded passengers, but the weather conditions would determine the smooth conduct of operation which would start at 0730 hrs tomorrow, the Divisional Commissioner said.

Refreshments and medical facilities were arranged by Army along with sufficient accommodation both in Jammu and Srinagar for the stranded passengers.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, after his telephonic conversation with Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, issued orders for a two-day free air service for the stranded passengers through special Army aircraft.

UNI