Jammu & Kashmir: Indian Air Force Evacuates 6,126 Passengers Out Of Valley As Intense Action Continues

As the annual Amarnath Yatra was called off owing to the threat of terrorist attacks, the Indian Air Force (IAF) on Saturday (3 August) shifted pilgrims out of the Valley, reports Economic Times.

The IAF carried the Amarnath Yatris and other tourists to Jammu and Pathankot from Srinagar in its C-17 transport aircraft. The development followed the request by the J&K administration to the IAF to evacuate the yatris due to the lack of availability of commercial flights.

According to news agency ANI, 6,126 passengers reached the Srinagar airport on Saturday (3 August). While 5,829 passengers took the 32 scheduled flights, the remaining 387 were flown out by four IAF aircraft to destinations like Jammu, Pathankot and Hindon.

The transport aircraft of the IAF had been transporting the Central Armed Police Forces’ personnel to Jammu and Kashmir. Last week, the Union Home Ministry has decided to infuse 1,00,000 additional troops to the state.

An American made M-24 sniper rifle and ammunition, made in Pakistan based ordnance factories, were recovered along the Baltal, Pahalgam pilgrimage routes, forcing the authorities to call-off the Amarnath Yatra.