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A western disturbance over the northern parts of the country has caused wide- spread snowfall and avalanches in the State of Jammu & Kashmir, especially from February 16 to 20, 2005. A large number of people were reported as stranded on the highways and the surrounding areas. The disruption of surface transport has placed additional burden on the air transport.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation and its organisations have provided additional connectivity to the Kashmir Valley, in the past one-week. Twenty-three flights were operated ex-Srinagar, between February 21 and 23, to evacuate around 2,925 passengers, who were stranded at Srinagar. This provided relief, not only to the local residents, but also to the numerous tourists, who were stranded at Srinagar and adjoining places. On many days, number of flights operated were as high as 10, as against the scheduled 4.
A request was received from the State government on February 25, 2005, to airlift 4,000 people from Jammu to Srinagar. A massive operation was launched to operate approximately 30 flights in the coming 4 days to cater to this extra load.
The national carrier Indian Airlines, and the Jet Airways, have risen to the occasion. Indian Airlines is operating 5 flights (2 Airbus A-320 and 3 Boeing-737) ex-Jammu to cater to approximately 650 people today. Jet Airways is also scheduled to operate 3 flights ex-Jammu (all Boeing), today, to air lift around 400 people.
These two airlines propose to operate 9 flights per day ex-Jammu to Srinagar (Indian Airlines –5 per day and Jet Airways-4 per day) on February 27 and 28, 2005, to airlift approximately 1,200 passengers per day. Air Sahara and the Indian Airlines have also agreed to uplift additional passengers booked on Jet Airways ex-Delhi to Srinagar so as to enable Jet Airways to operate extra flights on Jammu-Srinagar sector. These operations will be continued over the coming few days to clear all stranded passengers.
Airports Authority of India has made special arrangements at Jammu and Srinagar airports to handle the unprecedented rush. Indian Air Fort and the local administration have offered all assistance in this operation.
Indian Airlines, Jet Airways and Air Sahara have also airlifted approximately 22 MT of emergency medical supplies to Srinagar, free of charge, during the past three days, out of which Indian Airlines alone has carried more than 15 MTs. Further, Indian airlines is operating special flights to carry paramilitary troops to the Kashmir Valley for rescue and relief operations.
MC/DB/NSR
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