IAF airlifts stranded passengers in Kashmir Valley

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Aamir Ali

02 February, 2011

During the closure of Sonamarg-Gumri road, the Indian Air Force operates weekly Air Courier service between Kargil and Jammu every Tuesday and thrice a week between Kargil and Srinagar on every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, subject to weather.

SIXTY TWO stranded passengers were airlifted between Bandipora and Gurez in Indian Air force (IAF) Mi-17 helicopter today. Forteen passengers were airlifted from Bandipora helipad to Neeru and 3 passengers to Baduab, 16 passengers were lifted from Neeru to Bandipora, 29 passengers were airlifted from Baduab to Bandipora.

The passengers were facilitated at Bandipora by Addl. Deputy Commissioner, Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Gasi and at Gurez by Sub Divisional Magistrate, Mohammed Ashraf. Gurez Sub Division had got cutoff from rest of the Kashmir Valley after the recent snowfall and the temperature in Gurez having dipped to minus 15 degrees. The passengers airlifted were old-aged patients, ladies and small children, who appreciated state government IAF authorities for arranging the helicopter service.

MLA Gurez, Nazir Ahmed Gurezi and Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Dr. Asgar Hassan Samoon conveyed their thanks to Air Officer Commanding J&K Udhampur, Air Vice Marshall P S Gill (AVSM, VSM) and Group Captain S. Srivastava (Air-2) for making the airlift facility available for the civilians.

Meanwhile, 162 passengers were airlifted in Indian Air Force AN-32 Kargil Courier. Thirty six passengers were airlifted from Kargil to Jammu and 53 passengers from Jammu to Kargil. Twenty nine passengers were airlifted from Kargil to Srinagar and 44 passengers from Srinagar to Kargil.

During the closure of Sonamarg-Gumri road, the Indian Air Force operates weekly Air Courier service between Kargil and Jammu every Tuesday and thrice a week between Kargil and Srinagar on every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, subject to weather.