Srinagar: A day after remaining cut off from the outside world, Kashmir’s aerial and surface links were restored on Saturday as flight operations resumed at Srinagar’s International airport and Jammu-Srinagar Highway (NH-44) also reopened for traffic.
Director, of the Airport Authority of India AAI, Srinagar Airport, Kuldeep Singh said that snow was cleared from the runway and apron early in the morning. “Flight services have resumed. The first flight arrives by noon,” he said, as per news agency GNS.
Asked about the number of flights expected to operate during the day, he said, “We are looking to have a maximum number of flights today.” Following snowfall on Friday, most of the flights to and fro Srinagar were canceled and the airport authorities have already announced passengers of the canceled flights would be accommodated by the respective airlines in the next available flight “at no extra cost.”
Meanwhile, traffic on the 270-km strategic Jammu-Srinagar highway reopened and according to the officials, light motor vehicles have been released from both ends of the thoroughfare. The strategic highway was closed mainly due to shooting stones and mudslides near Maharthe in the Ramban district.
Mughal road, connecting the twin districts of Pir Panjal’s Poonch and Rajouri with Shopian, as well as the Srinagar-Leh highway has been already closed for this winter.
The Mughal road has been closed for vehicular movement vide District Magistrate Shopian’s order from January 5 given the snow accumulation.
Also, the Srinagar-Leh highway was closed for vehicular movement vide Divisional Commissioner Ladakh UT’s order (no. 75) on January 6 given the snow accumulation.
