Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 8: State Government is making all efforts in facilitating the passengers stuck at various places due to closure of National Highway as well as cancellation of flights. The current spell of snow, rain and inclement weather in the State has also disrupted road as well as air services resulting in people getting stranded at various locations.
Several people including students from Srinagar who had to appear for the second phase of the Graduate Aptitude Test Exam (GATE) in Jammu missed their flights and were not able to travel via road as the National Highway was also blocked due to heavy snowfall.
Similarly, hundreds of Kashmiri pilgrims after performing Umrah at Saudi Arabia reached New Delhi but could not travel further because of cancellation of flights to Srinagar.
Taking cognizance of the matter, Governor Satya Pal Malik directed the administration for making alternate travel arrangements for all such people stranded at Srinagar and Delhi.
Acting on the Governor’s directions, the State Government immediately requested Union Defence Ministry to help in this regard after which 179 students were flown to Jammu through a special aircraft provided by Air Force authorities for appearing in GATE.
Similarly, the Union Civil Aviation Ministry was requested seeking their help in taking stranded pilgrims back to Srinagar who had missed their flights because of non-operation of flights to valley.
On the request made by the State Government, 180 passengers have been flown back in Air India Flight 2827 landed at Srinagar Airport later in the day and the remaining passengers are scheduled to fly back to Srinagar on Saturday. All necessary arrangements including their stay in New Delhi has also been made by Air India.
The team of Resident Commissioner New Delhi is in constant touch with these people ensuring all possible help to them.
Since the matter came into the notice of the Government, Advisors to Governor and Chief Secretary are continuously monitoring the steps taken in this regard and are being regularly informed of the progress in this regard.
They said that everything would be done to provide every kind of support to the people of the State stuck at Srinagar and in New Delhi because of the inclement weather.
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