KARGIL: The Indian Air Force’s Kargil Courier service has airlifted over 3,000 stranded passengers during the closure of the 434-kilometre-long Srinagar-Leh National Highway this winter.
The ‘Kargil Courier’ service started from January 18.
In all, 3,228 passengers availed the services of the AN-32 and the IL-76 aircraft provided by the Indian Air Force for the residents of Ladakh, an official said on Tuesday.
“The AN-32 Kargil Courier Service operated today and airlifted 39 passengers from Jammu to Kargil. In total, 3228 passengers availed the service of AN-32 and IL-76 Aircrafts provided by the Indian Air Force for the residents of Kargil,” he said.
The Courier Service operates in winter months, during the period of closure of Zojila Pass.
While the AN-32 aircraft operated between Kargil and the twin capitals of Jammu and Srinagar, IL-76 sorties were arranged between Srinagar-Leh and Jammu-Leh for stranded passengers.
In addition, several hundred stranded passengers were airlifted from Chandigarh to Leh in the IL-76 aircraft on the personal intervention of Ladakh Lt Governor Brig (Retd) BD Mishra, he added.
Chairman and CEC, LAHDC, Kargil Feroz Ahmed Khan, Commissioner, Secretary for Civil Aviation and Divisional Commissioner Ladakh, Saugat Biswas, Deputy Commissioner Kargil Santosh Sukhadeve and Chief Coordinator Aamir Ali have jointly expressed their sincere gratitude to the entire team of officers and staff that worked day and night to facilitate and coordinate smooth functioning of Kargil Courier Service for the benefit of the passengers, said an official spokesperson.
