Stranded passengers of Kargil protest in Srinagar

Srinagar, Mar 18 (UNI) About 400 passengers from Kargil, stranded here for the past two weeks, today protested alleging that authorities had failed to airlift them.

Raising anti-administration slogans, they said they were stranded here since March.

About 400 persons including women, children and the aged from different parts of the Kargil district were stranded here, Mohammad Ishaq told UNI at Kargil house Bemina.

Of these about 200 persons have okay tickets for helicopter service from here to Kargil, he said adding he has purchased ticket on March with serial number 1700.

However, he alleged some of the passengers having serial number 1900 were allowed to board a helicopter yesterday after they paid bribe to officials.

Another passenger Ghulam Mohammad said they were isiting airport almost daily only to return disappointed in the evening.

He said a number of stranded passengers sold their watches and other valuables to feed themselves.

He said they could not go by road as the Srinagar-Leh national highway has been closed for six winter months from November 15 last year.

On the directions of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad a helicopter service, twice in a week, was started last month after about two thousand people were stranded in Kargil and Srinagar.

Some teachers from the Kashmir valley were also airlifted from here to Kargil recently.

UNI