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| 8754 passengers lifted in 61 sorties to Srinagar | | Governor meets stranded passengers at Udhampur | |
UDHAMPUR | MAR 2
Governor Lt. General (Retd) S K Sinha today visited Udhampur and met the stranded passengers being flown to Srinagar in special sorties carried out by the Indian Air Force at the behest of the State Government.
He interacted with the passengers who were highly appreciative of the initiative taken by the State Government and quick response by the Army and Indian Air Force in air-lifting thousands of passengers during the past three days from Jammu and Udhampur.
Talking to media persons, the Governor lauded the timely response to the situation by the Chief Minister Mr Ghulam Nabi Azad and prompt instructions by the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for carrying out air operations to air lift the passengers from Jammu and Srinagar. He also complimented the civil administration, the Army and Air Force for the gigantic effort. He said this is not for the first time that the Army or the Air Force has rendered humanitarian help to the people in need but in recent past they performed an exemplary role in rescuing civilians during snow tsunami and earthquake. The Army is always there to defend borders and protect the people, he added.
General Sinha said that the Army has befriended the people of Jammu and Kashmir and its role in the prevailing situation has remained splendid, unlike other armies of the world engaged in anti-terrorism operations.
During his interaction with the stranded people, an elderly passenger, Abdul Razak told the Governor about the care taken by the Army in the transit camp by providing food, shelter and bedding to the stranded passengers. ‘Even they made up a room for us to offer the prayers’, he exclaimed, adding that being a border dweller he can’t even imagine doing without the support of the Army. ‘They have been rendering immense help and they have become part of our social fabric’, he maintained.
The passengers had all the praise for the civil administration in assisting them all these days and ensuring their comforts at the air-fields. Sumera Majid, a student of law department of Kashmir University was very vocal about the help by the Army, Air Force and civil administration of Udhampur district. Gulzara of Sumlaran, Bandipore, who was enthusiastic to board an aircraft for the first time in her life said that the help by the Army was not something new for them as they have always remained by their side especially in remote and far flung areas.
Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Mr Pramod Jain, Air Officer Command, A Chopra, Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, Mr O P Kalandaria besides Sub Area Commander, Brig K K Chopra and Sr Superintendent of Police, Mr P R Manhas briefed the Governor about the measures taken for comfortable stay and air lift of the stranded passengers. Necessary arrangements had been made in the Army Transit Camp, Udhampur for food, snacks and stay of the passengers. The officers of the district administration remained with them round the clock to ensure their safe journey to their destination and coordination with the Army and Air Force. The Army had deployed a lady doctor, several doctors and para medics to look after the passengers as the skies roared with heavy transport carriers of the Indian Air Force.
In all 61 sorties were undertaken since Wednesday under Operation Humsafar which 19 on February 28, 38 on Ist March and 4 till this afternoon from Jammu and Udhampur. While 2527 stranded people were air lifted in 19 sorties on Wednesday, 5758 were carried in 38 sorties yesterday. Today 469 passengers were airlifted in 4 sorties till this afternoon while the air operations are on to clear the remaining passengers subject to weather conditions.
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