Kargil: AN-32 Kargil Courier Service started on Wednesday and lifted 31 passengers. Sixteen passengers were airlifted from Srinagar to Kargil and 15 from Kargil to Srinagar in the Indian Air Force Aircraft. Four passengers, including a patient, were also lifted in Mi-17 Pawan Hans Helicopter from Kargil to Srinagar.
The Courier Service operates in winter during the period of closure of Zojila. The passengers airlifted on Wednesday included a sizeable number of senior citizens and one minor child. The tickets of the AN-32 Kargil Courier Service have been made available online.
Commissioner/Secretary to Government Civil Aviation Saugat Biswas earlier reviewed the arrangements with Deputy Commissioner Kargil Santosh Sukhadeve and Chief Coordinator Aamir Ali and other senior officers, in order to make the arrangements fool proof.
Srinagar Airport Director Kuldeep Singh also held a meeting, which was attended by Regional Director, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) Noushad Ahmed, senior officers from CISF, Air India Airport Services Ltd Sajad Ahmed, Air India Security Services Ltd SS Pathare, CRPF etc. Regional Director BCAS suggested that a Standard Operating Procedure (SoP) should be formulated, so that the flight operation can work smoothly. At Jammu, the Airport Director SK Garg also reviewed arrangements for AN-32 which is planned on 19th January between Jammu and Kargil. Station Manager Air India Security Vikas Patil also attended.
Deputy Commissioner Kargil expressed his gratitude to Group Capt. Rama Rao Air HQ, Group Capt. GS Tung Air-2, AOC J&K Udhampur, AOC Srinagar, Jammu and Leh and the IAF team at Kargil Airport ensured that the 1st flight operation was smooth. He also expressed gratitude to CEO/MD of Air India Ltd, CEO Air India Airport Services Ltd (AIASL) Ram Babu, General Manager AIASL Abdul Gaffar, CSO Air India Security Sanjay Kohli, for the facility extended to the passengers for operation of the Kargil Courier.
The DC expressed hope that the subsequent flight operation will be hassle free so that the needy people can avail the services of the courier.

KR Desk