Domestic airlines pitch in for relief effort in Kashmir

New Delhi, Sep 11: Domestic airline sector companies like Jet Airways, GoAir, IndiGo, SpiceJet and Air India Thursday said they have made specific contributions in the ongoing relief and rescue operations going on Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).

Budget carrier GoAir operated a special charter flight Thursday morning from Leh to Delhi to evacuate 151 students stranded in J&K.

"These students belong to National Institute of Technology. The flight was co-ordinated by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Leh District Administration."

The airline said that it is offering free cargo services to various relief organisations working on the J&K situation.

Jet Airways has been flying in relief material into Srinagar on its daily Delhi - Srinagar service without any charge. The airline it has received requests for carriage of nearly 5,000 kgs of relief material such as tents, blankets, food grains medical supplies and the same is being fulfilled.

Jet Airways' Thursday operated an additional Boeing 737 non-scheduled flight from Leh to New Delhi to evacuate 133 stranded passengers in Leh. This is in addition to the existing daily service operating to Leh from New Delhi.

National carrier Air India too operated special flights for the second consecutive day to evacuate people stranded in Kashmir.

Today, Air India operated one relief flight to Leh and another one to Srinagar in addition to its normal scheduled operations.

The airline said that it operated a special flight to Leh to bring people who were able to reach Leh from Srinagar and take the air route out of Kashmir.

"The flight operated with an Airbus 319 aircraft and brought back a full compliment of 122 passengers including 44 NIT student from Andhra Pradesh. This was in addition to the scheduled Delhi-Leh-Delhi flight," the airline said.

Low cost carrier (LCC) SpiceJet said that its call centres are ensuring that communication is seamless for passengers in the J&K travel area.

"We are also deputing staff from Delhi and other stations to ensure a hassle free travel for our customers," the LCC said.

Another LCC IndiGo said that in addition to the supplies and materials being sent to Srinagar, a psychiatrist will be leaving by its flight every morning and returning by the evening flight to help passengers cope with the traumatic event and counsel them.

The airlines flight 6E-559 carried 200 kg of relief material containing medicines pouches, food items to Srinagar.

IANS