NEW DELHI: Tourists in Srinagar are now trying to return to the safety of their homes at the earliest, following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on Tuesday. Air India and IndiGo are operating an extra flight each from Srinagar to Delhi & Mumbai (four extra flights so far) on Wednesday.
Citing “an unexpected demand from tourists seeking to return to their homes”, the DGCA on Tuesday issued an advisory to airlines to increase Srinagar flights and facilitate “evacuation of stranded tourists.” The DGCA has also advised airlines to waive cancellations and rebooking charges for Srinagar flights, some that has been done.
“We have operated two ferry flights (with no passengers) to Srinagar, which will fly out passengers to Delhi and Mumbai. These extra flights are mainly to accommodate the rush of passengers who want to prepone their return following the Pahalgam attack,” said Air India sources. The same would be true for IndiGo as well.
Kashmir was in the midst of an over-booked summer travel season and is now witnessing tourists rushing to return home. The aviation ministry says it has kept “additional flights on standby to cater to further evacuation needs.”
Airlines have also waived off cancellation/rebooking charges for Srinagar flights for some time period as many are now having a rethink over going to Kashmir as per plans made earlier. Union aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu has warned carriers against resorting to surge pricing as there may be a one-way rush of travellers to leave the valley.
“Naidu has directed all airlines to extend full cooperation for the transportation of (mortal remains) to their respective home states, working in sync with state governments and local authorities,” an official said.
J&K CM Omar Abdullah said on X: “It’s heartbreaking to see the exodus of our guests from the valley after (Tuesday’s) tragic terror attack in Pahalgam but at the same time we totally understand why people would want to leave. While DGCA & the ministry of civil aviation are working to organise extra flights, NH-44 between Srinagar & Jammu has been reconnected for traffic in a single direction. I’ve directed the administration to facilitate traffic between Srinagar & Jammu allowing tourist vehicles to leave. This will have to be done in a controlled & organised way because the road is still unstable in places and we are also working hard to clear all the stranded vehicles. We will not be able to permit completely free movement of vehicles at the moment & we hope that everyone will cooperate with us.”
Air India and IndiGo said on X that they will operate an additional flight from Srinagar to Delhi and Mumbai on Wednesday each (four extra flights in all) and that they are conditionally offering complimentary rescheduling and full refunds on cancellations to passengers with confirmed bookings till April 30, 2025, on these sectors.
Union aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu is monitoring the situation and held an urgent meeting with all airline operators to warn against surge pricing. Airlines have been directed to maintain regular fare levels, ensuring that no passenger is burdened during this sensitive time.
Naidu spoke to Maharashtra deputy CM “and assured full support to facilitate the safe return of tourists and coordination with the state authorities.”
He also spoke to Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu and a special help desk has been set up at Andhra Bhawan in Delhi to assist and coordinate the safe return of Telugu people stranded in Kashmir, the ministry said in a statement. “Naidu expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family of Chandra Mouli, a resident of Visakhapatnam who tragically lost his life in the terrorist attack near Pahalgam. He contacted the Visakhapatnam district collector and requested full coordination with the victim’s family, ensuring that the body will be airlifted and brought back to Vizag with all necessary support.”
Citing “an unexpected demand from tourists seeking to return to their homes”, the DGCA on Tuesday issued an advisory to airlines to increase Srinagar flights and facilitate “evacuation of stranded tourists.” The DGCA has also advised airlines to waive cancellations and rebooking charges for Srinagar flights, some that has been done.
“We have operated two ferry flights (with no passengers) to Srinagar, which will fly out passengers to Delhi and Mumbai. These extra flights are mainly to accommodate the rush of passengers who want to prepone their return following the Pahalgam attack,” said Air India sources. The same would be true for IndiGo as well.
Kashmir was in the midst of an over-booked summer travel season and is now witnessing tourists rushing to return home. The aviation ministry says it has kept “additional flights on standby to cater to further evacuation needs.”
Airlines have also waived off cancellation/rebooking charges for Srinagar flights for some time period as many are now having a rethink over going to Kashmir as per plans made earlier. Union aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu has warned carriers against resorting to surge pricing as there may be a one-way rush of travellers to leave the valley.
“Naidu has directed all airlines to extend full cooperation for the transportation of (mortal remains) to their respective home states, working in sync with state governments and local authorities,” an official said.
J&K CM Omar Abdullah said on X: “It’s heartbreaking to see the exodus of our guests from the valley after (Tuesday’s) tragic terror attack in Pahalgam but at the same time we totally understand why people would want to leave. While DGCA & the ministry of civil aviation are working to organise extra flights, NH-44 between Srinagar & Jammu has been reconnected for traffic in a single direction. I’ve directed the administration to facilitate traffic between Srinagar & Jammu allowing tourist vehicles to leave. This will have to be done in a controlled & organised way because the road is still unstable in places and we are also working hard to clear all the stranded vehicles. We will not be able to permit completely free movement of vehicles at the moment & we hope that everyone will cooperate with us.”
Air India and IndiGo said on X that they will operate an additional flight from Srinagar to Delhi and Mumbai on Wednesday each (four extra flights in all) and that they are conditionally offering complimentary rescheduling and full refunds on cancellations to passengers with confirmed bookings till April 30, 2025, on these sectors.
Union aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu is monitoring the situation and held an urgent meeting with all airline operators to warn against surge pricing. Airlines have been directed to maintain regular fare levels, ensuring that no passenger is burdened during this sensitive time.
Naidu spoke to Maharashtra deputy CM “and assured full support to facilitate the safe return of tourists and coordination with the state authorities.”
He also spoke to Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu and a special help desk has been set up at Andhra Bhawan in Delhi to assist and coordinate the safe return of Telugu people stranded in Kashmir, the ministry said in a statement. “Naidu expressed his heartfelt condolences to the family of Chandra Mouli, a resident of Visakhapatnam who tragically lost his life in the terrorist attack near Pahalgam. He contacted the Visakhapatnam district collector and requested full coordination with the victim’s family, ensuring that the body will be airlifted and brought back to Vizag with all necessary support.”
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