The Kashmir Pulse

SRINAGAR — A bomb threat call targeting Vistara flight UK611, arriving from New Delhi, prompted immediate action by airport authorities at Srinagar International Airport.

The incident unfolded when Air Traffic Control (ATC) Srinagar received information about a 'threatening call', sparking a swift and coordinated response from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).

A top official quoted by the local news agency KDC said that following established safety protocols, the CISF quickly evacuated the aircraft and conducted a thorough search of the plane and its surroundings.

Passengers and crew members were escorted to a secure area while the investigation was underway. Bomb disposal squads and sniffer dogs were activated to meticulously inspect the aircraft for any suspicious items. After an exhaustive search, no explosives were found on board.

An airport official confirmed that the threat was deemed 'non-credible', and normal operations resumed shortly thereafter. "All necessary precautions were taken to ensure the safety of passengers and staff. Flights have now resumed as per schedule," the official stated.

Passengers at the airport praised the efficiency and professionalism of the CISF and airport authorities in managing the situation without causing undue panic.

Authorities are now investigating the origin of the threat call. Enhanced security measures remain in place to ensure the continued safety of all flights operating through Srinagar International Airport.

SRINAGAR — The Drug Control Department along with the Sales Tax Department on Saturday seized a consignment of banned Tramadol drugs at Srinagar International Airport.

As per the news agency CNS, a statement in this regard reads, "The team from the Drug Control Department, under the direct supervision of Irfana Ahmad, Joint Drugs Controller and Irshad Assad Jan, Sales Tax Officer with the Central Enforcement (Airport Wing) and his team today seized 1080 Tramadol tablets after acting on an information received from Sales Tax Officer with the Central Enforcement (Airport Wing) department, Cargo Building."

It said that Tramadol drugs, prescription for opioid pain medication, are coming through unregulated channels and could be dangerous if misused by drug addicts.

"The Drug Control Department is investigating the source and intended destination of this shipment," the statement said, adding, "This seizure is part of the department's ongoing effort to combat the illegal sale and distribution of prescription drugs. In the past, the department in collaboration with the Sales Tax Dept. at Airport Srinagar successfully seized similar consignments and brought those responsible to books (sic)."

The Drug Control Department is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of the public by preventing the sale and distribution of illegal drugs, it added.

SRINAGAR — The Air India Express flight from Delhi to Srinagar was traumatizing for the passengers when the crew made a couple of failed attempts to land at Srinagar Airport yesterday.

The Air India Express flight (15741) which departed from Delhi to Srinagar at 2:50 pm on March 13 yesterday took off again when it was touching to land at Srinagar Airport. The pilot made a couple of failed attempts to land, and after making several rounds in the air, much to the satisfaction of the passengers, made a successful landing. “There were chaotic scenes inside the plane. The atmosphere was scary and some passengers started crying. I don’t know whether it was due to bad weather or the plane had developed some technical snag,” said a passenger to the news agency KNT who was on board.

Another passenger accused the Air India Express of playing with the lives of people. “I can’t express in words those panicking moments inside the plane when it failed to land on the runway. We all were very anxious and virtually crying after the plane made many failed attempts to land,” he said.

Efforts to reach the Director of Srinagar Airport didn’t materialize. The story will be updated once contact is established.

SRINAGAR — After a day of isolation due to adverse weather conditions, Kashmir's aerial connectivity was reestablished on Monday with the resumption of flight operations at Srinagar International Airport.

An official from Srinagar airport said that diligent efforts were made to clear the runway of accumulated snow, enabling the prompt restoration of flight services.

While acknowledging a slight delay in the initial flights, the official assured that operations are now running smoothly, with every flight adhering to the schedule.

Simultaneously, authorities have successfully reinstated traffic movement on the sole national highway connecting the valley with the outside world.

A traffic official confirmed that traffic is now flowing in both directions on the critical highway. He highlighted the extensive efforts to restore the road, emphasizing that work continued late into the night, resulting in the successful resumption of traffic movement on both sides.

The restoration of both aerial and highway connectivity marks a significant step towards returning normalcy to the region after the temporary disruption caused by weather-related challenges.

SRINAGAR — Authorities on Sunday said that all flights scheduled for today have been cancelled at Srinagar International Airport due to ongoing weather conditions.

"All the flights have been cancelled for the day due to bad weather at Srinagar," the Director of Srinagar International Airport informed.

Pertinently, most parts of Kashmir including Srinagar witnessed major snowfall of the season even as weathermen forecast more.

An official of the Meteorological Department said that the plains received 3-6 inches of snowfall while 8-12 inches were recorded in the middle and higher reaches of Kashmir Division.

SRINAGAR — State Investigation Agency (SIA) Kashmir on Thursday said it has arrested a notorious 'terror fugitive' based and operating in and from the Middle-Eastern Arab country of Oman, at Srinagar International Airport.

In a statement to the news agency KDC, the agency said that the accused has been found involved in 'terror funding' case FIR No. 09/2021, Police Station SIA Kashmir.

The statement said that one accused namely Danish Ahmad Koul son of Bashir Ahmad Koul, resident of Tibti Colony Hawal Srinagar, working in a Middle East country Oman at a business establishment, was found involved in funding active 'terrorists' by way of financing them through his Valley-based OGW network.

A case FIR No. 09/2021 was lodged on 10-08-2021 under the provisions of Unlawful Activities Prevention Act 1967 as amended, waging war against the Union of India by way of aiding, abetting, supporting and assisting active 'terrorists' of Srinagar and south Kashmir at Police Station SIA Kashmir, it said.

During the course of investigation as per the agency, it was revealed that the accused along with one more 'terrorist' financier, a local accomplice namely Hammad Farooq Tramboo son of Farooq Ahmad Tramboo, resident of Kachgari Mohalla Soura Srinagar, in the garb of salesmen, were channelizing hefty amounts of funds raised by ISI & Pakistan-based Lashkar-i-Toiba - TRF handlers, masters for distribution among terrorists of the said proscribed terrorist organizations and families of eliminated terrorists in the UT of J&K under a deep-rooted criminal conspiracy.

Hammad Farooq, as per SIA, is already facing trial in the said case at the court of Special Judge NIA Court Srinagar, while Danish Ahmad Koul was at large and his arrest was much awaited as he did not join the interrogation sessions of the case during the course of the investigation.

The duo, as per SIA, on the behest of Pakistani handlers had recruited three more conduits in Srinagar for facilitating the distribution of funds among adversaries in the UT of J&K. “The funds have been calculated to be running in millions of INR (Indian National Rupee), which were being pumped into the UT of J&K for furthering terrorist designs to overawe the government establishments and intimidate general public for dissociation of UT of J&K from the Union of India.”

"The investigation so far unfurls deep criminal conspiracy and is expected to give more specific leads for more arrests forthwith," the statement added.

SRINAGAR — Amid fresh snowfall in Kashmir Valley including Srinagar, most flights have been cancelled and others have been delayed so far at ‘International’ airport here on Monday.

Confirming it, the Director, of the Airport Authority of India (AAI), Srinagar Airport, Kuldeep Singh said that all Air India flights for today have been cancelled due to bad weather. Also, he said, three flights of Vistara — UK 644 SXR DEL having estimated time of departure at 11:35, UK 611 SXR IXJ (ETD 12:35) and UK 612 SXR DEL (ETD 15:40) have been cancelled.

Also, he said, five Spicejet flights (SG 8963 and SG 8161, SG 951 SXR-BOM, SG 8963 SXR-IXJ, SG 8161 SXR-IXJ), three Indigo flights (6E 2981/2982, 6E 2356/2356, 6E 6022/6163) and one GoFirst (G8911/G8913) have also been cancelled.

A senior official of the airport told news agency GNS that there was a possibility of more flight cancellations.

Earlier, Director AAI Srinagar said visibility at the airport was only 200 M and increased to 500 M. However, he said, there is continuous snowfall. “We are simultaneously clearing the snow….To avoid inconvenience and to avoid congestion, please check the status of your flight from your airlines before coming to the airport,” he added.

Train services suspended amid snowfall in Kashmir

Authorities have suspended train services amid snowfall in Kashmir Valley on Monday.

“The train service will remain suspended until the snow on the railway line is cleared,” an official said.

“The railway will resume its operations as soon as the snow is cleared. Once it is done, there will be a first trial run and then the regular train is expected to resume. We apologize to the people for the inconvenience,” the official added.

SRINAGAR — All flights at the Srinagar Airport are delayed due to low visibility after fresh snowfall on Saturday morning.

Airport authorities said that flights have been delayed due to inclement weather. They said that operations will commence once the weather improves.

Farooq Ahmed, a Delhi-bound passenger, told the news agency KNT that the Air Asia flight that was scheduled to leave for Delhi early morning has been delayed, and now it is being informed that it will hit the sky at around 2:30 PM, in case the weather improves.

There are hundreds of passengers stranded at the Airport due to delayed flights.

Notably, parts of Kashmir Valley experienced light rainfall and snowfall.

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 International airport and Jammu-Srinagar Highway reopened for traffic.

Director, Airport Authority of India (AAI), Srinagar Airport, Kuldeep Singh, spoke to the news agency GNS and 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.

Asked about the number of flights expected to operate during the day, he said, “We are looking forward to having a maximum number of flights today.”

Following snowfall on Friday, most of the flights to and fro Srinagar were cancelled and the airport authorities have already announced passengers of the cancelled flights would be accommodated by the respective airlines in the next available flight “at no extra cost.”

Meanwhile, traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, the only surface link connecting Kashmir Valley with the outside world, 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 Mahar in Ramban district.

Mughal road, connecting the twin districts of Poonch and Rajouri with Shopian, as well as the Srinagar-Leh highway have been already closed for this winter.

The Mughal road has been closed for vehicular movement vide District Magistrate Shopian's order from January 5 in view of snow accumulation.

Also, the Srinagar-Leh highway was closed for vehicular movement vide Divisional Commissioner Ladakh UT's Order (No. 75) on January 6 in view of snow accumulation.

SRINAGAR — The first batch of 145 Hajj pilgrims arrived in Srinagar on Saturday. Senior officials ensured coordination and security checks at the arrival venue.

A flight with 80 male and 65 female pilgrims arrived at Srinagar International Airport today at 07:40 AM. The pilgrims were warmly received and welcomed by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Pandurang K Pole (IAS), DIG CKR Sujeet Singh (IPS) and Deputy Commissioner Budgam Shahbaz Mirza (JKAS) and SSP Budgam Tahir Saleem (JKPS).

Director Health Services, Director AAI Srinagar, Hajj Officer Srinagar and other civil administration and police officers were also present during the welcome ceremony.

At least 80,000 pilgrims from India including 7000 from J&K performed Hajj 2022 this year. The last flight of Hajj pilgrims from J&K will arrive on August 1.

Meanwhile, the pilgrims expressed satisfaction over the arrangements and assistance provided by the Hajj Committee during their stay in Saudi Arabia.

While interacting with the returning pilgrims, officers felicitated them for performing Hajj. They said all the requisite arrangements have been put in place to facilitate the hassle-free return of the pilgrims to their respective destinations.

SRINAGAR — The J&K Haj Committee today informed all selected Haj pilgrims that they shall deposit the Haj arrangement dues which include mandatory insurance premium, transport charges from Haj House to Airport and other handling charges to be incurred by J&K Haj Committee as per the details given below through J&K Bank in Account No: 1206040500005039.

In this regard, the pilgrims are informed that the pay-in-slip can also be downloaded from www.jkshc.org.

Meanwhile, the Haj pilgrims of Jammu / Ladakh Division who have opted for Srinagar Embarkation Point shall have to deposit additional charges on account of boarding for their stay at Haj House, Srinagar. The concerned pilgrims are required to deposit the receipt (pay-in-slips) of the amount at the office of respective Deputy Commissioners at the time of collection of passports and other travel documents.

The pilgrims who do not want to avail of the boarding facility at Haj House, Srinagar shall pay Rs. 850/- per pilgrim.

Pilgrims belonging to Kashmir Division who want to avail the boarding facility at Haj House, Srinagar for one night shall have to pay Rs. 1250/- (Rs.850/- + Rs. 400/-) per pilgrim. Pilgrims of Jammu / Ladakh Division who have opted for Srinagar Embarkation Point shall have to pay Rs. 2100/- per pilgrim as they have to report to Haj House, Bemina 60 hours prior to their departure.

Those travelling from Delhi Embarkation Point shall have to pay Rs. 200/- only per pilgrim as insurance premium / administrative.

SRINAGAR — Member Hajj Committee of India (HCI) Er Aijaz Hussain on Friday said that the first Hajj-2022 flight from J&K will take off from Srinagar International Airport on June 5.

All arrangements for the smooth and hassle-free Hajj 2022 are in place and HCI will ensure all the facilities for the Hajj aspirants. “First Hajj-2022 flight from J&K will take off from Srinagar airport on June 5,” Er Aijaz told news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO) and urged the aspirants to pack their bags and get ready for the holy pilgrimage.

This year, as per the Saudi government, one million Muslims from across the globe will perform Hajj 2022 amid strict adherence to Covid SoPs.

83,000 Muslims from India with almost 7000 from J&K will perform the Hajj. HCI has been on tenterhooks to ensure all the possible facilities are in place to facilitate the Hujaj.

Meanwhile, Er Aijaz will be the head of Embankment points in Srinagar and Lucknow, respectively.

SRINAGAR — A live hand grenade was recovered during screening from the baggage of an Army trooper at Srinagar’s International Airport on Monday, official sources said.

They told news agency Kashmir Dot Com (KDC) that at about 0930 hrs airlines screener during baggage screening at the drop gate has recovered one live hand grenade (312M/KF90) concealed in the Check-in baggage of an Army trooper identified as Balaji Sampath (42 RR, E Coy., Card No. F999848) son of Sampath, a resident of K.K. Nagar, Thorapadi, area of Vellore, in Tamil Nadu, deployed at Awantipora area in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.

Sampath was travelling from Srinagar to Chennai via Delhi by Indigo flight 6E-5031/2061.

An officer from Srinagar airport confirmed the incident to KDC and said the accused has been handed over to police post Humhama for further enquiries.

SRINAGAR — In a first, the authorities at Srinagar and Jammu airports have decided to start night parking facilities for passenger aircraft from April 21.

An official told Kashmir News Service (KNS) that the night parking at Jammu and Srinagar airports will start from April 21 and will be started by Go First airlines.

He said that the facility is going to start at the twin airports for the first time as it has never happened before.

Meanwhile, the Director, Srinagar International Airport told KNS that this is happening for the first time and it is very helpful for early morning flight operations.

“Earlier, flights used to come from Chandigarh or Delhi in the morning and after disembarking of the passengers from those flights, flight operation would commence from Srinagar airport in the morning,” he said.

He said now that the night parking facility is being started at the airport, aircraft will be available at the airport, which will help in commencing flight operations early in the morning.

SRINAGAR — Srinagar International Airport authorities have marked March 28 as the busiest day in the airport's history as a record number of 90 flights were operated in a single day.

An airport official told the news agency Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that for the first time in the history of Srinagar airport, 90 flights with 15014 passengers on board were recorded on March 28.

“We handled 45 arriving flights with 7824 passengers and 45 departing flights with 7190 passengers on March 28. A total of 90 flights with 15014 passengers makes it the busiest day in our history,” said an official of the Srinagar airport, adding that this was just the beginning of the summer schedule.

Talking to KNO, Director Srinagar Airport Sharad Kumar said that this was for the first time that such a record number of flights operated from the Srinagar airport. “Our concern is to ensure there is no congestion at the airport. For that, we are upgrading the infrastructure and placing help desks at several places to ensure each pilgrim is facilitated,” he said.

He added, “A new building is also coming up to accommodate more passengers. That will help address the issue of congestion. At present, we are ensuring that there is no congestion at the airport and for that, a series of steps have been taken.”

He said March 28 broke the previous record of this year when 13700 passengers arrived and departed from the airport. “The figure is likely to increase as the summer schedule has just begun,” Kumar said.

The record number of arrivals and departures at the Srinagar airport comes a day after the ensuing month of March registered a record number of tourist arrivals, the first time in the past 10 years.