New Delhi [India]: In response to the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation has arranged four additional flights from the Valley—two to Delhi and two to Mumbai—to facilitate the safe evacuation of tourists stranded in the region.
According to an official statement from the office of Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu, the Ministry is closely coordinating with airlines and other stakeholders to ensure a seamless transfer of passengers from Srinagar Airport. This decision comes amid heightened security concerns and growing calls from state governments and affected families for urgent assistance.
The Minister also held discussions with Union Home Minister Amit Shah to assess the travel and evacuation situation, following the deadly terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam on Tuesday.
“We are continuously monitoring the situation and coordinating with all major airlines to keep airfares stable and prevent price hikes due to the ongoing circumstances,” the Ministry’s statement read.
Officials confirmed that more flights will be added if the situation demands, ensuring no tourist is left stranded amid the tense security environment in the Valley.
National Response and Security Measures
The move comes as India reels from one of the biggest terror attacks since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, with the nation expressing deep sorrow and outrage.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, currently in Srinagar, paid homage to the victims at a wreath-laying ceremony outside the Police Control Room and reiterated the Centre’s resolve to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Search operations have intensified in Anantnag’s Baisran area, with combined forces from the Indian Army and J&K Police actively hunting down the terrorists involved in the attack. Security has been bolstered across tourist hotspots, with several roads and checkpoints now under surveillance.
Widespread Protests and Shutdowns
In a unified stand against terrorism, political parties, religious leaders, and civil society groups have called for a complete shutdown (Bandh) across Kashmir on Wednesday. Traders’ unions have also joined the call to protest the attack and show solidarity with the families of the victims.
Candlelight marches were held in multiple districts, including Baramulla, Srinagar, Poonch, Kupwara, and Khod village, while Bajrang Dal workers staged a demonstration in Jammu.
The official toll of the casualties has not yet been released by the government, although multiple reports confirm several fatalities and injuries, including tourists from Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh.