IAF airlifts 737 stranded passengers

Kargil, Mar 9: Atleast 737 passengers were airlifted on Saturday between Jammu-Leh by two sorties of IL-76 Aircrafts of the Indian Air Force (IAF).

Officials said that 514 passengers of Kargil, were airlifted from Jammu to Leh in two sorties and 223 from Srinagar to Leh in one sortie, by two IL-76 Aircrafts of Indian Air Force on Saturday, adding that a total of 737 stranded passengers were airlifted between Jammu and Ladakh.

Earlier on Monday, 331 passengers were airlifted in separate sorties of AN-32, also known as Kargil courier, by the IAF between Jammu and Kashmir to Kargil.

The Kargil courier was launched by the IAF on January 22 following closure of 434-km Srinagar-Leh national highway owing to heavy snowfall.

The passengers have expressed their gratitude to all authorities, Ladakh administration particularly the IAF, for facilitating their movement.