The Indian Air Force (IAF) came into the assistance of 538 people as they airlifted as many as 319 GATE aspirants, locals and tourists while the Jammu-Srinagar national highway was closed due to heavy snowfall. The flights were cancelled due to extremely bad weather conditions and roads were also blocked.
It was Governor Satya Pal Malik who gave directions and instructions to the administration to make quick alternative travel arrangements for the students who got stuck in Srinagar and Delhi. This is why necessary arrangements were made for several students, as well as, GATE aspirants who attended the exam on February 10, 2019.
“Due to heavy snowfall, the valley was cut off from the rest of world due to the closure of national highway and cancellation of flights. In view of above, state authorities in coordination with Indian Air Force arranged an aircraft to airlift the students appearing for GATE examination,” one of the senior officials said.
#NationFirst : A C-17 Globemaster of Indian Air Force airlifted 189 students of J&K, stranded due to heavy snowing for GATE exam from Srinagar to Jammu on 08 Feb 19. pic.twitter.com/FM4XTnqVor
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) February 9, 2019
The Indian Air Force deftly launched the special sorties of C17 Globemaster and helped GATE aspirants, the locals and tourists who were stuck in the twin capitals owing to the closure of Jammu-Srinagar national highway due to heavy snowfall and it was the only road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, a defence spokesman told PTI.
#NationFirst : Heavy snowfall in Jammu & Kashmir has resulted in closure of national highway. In support of the civil administration, IAF C-17 aircraft airlifted 170 civilians from Srinagar to Jammu, today.@PIB_India @SpokespersonMoD @DefenceMinIndia pic.twitter.com/mxKURqfB9d
— Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) February 9, 2019
The spokesperson notified that a total of 319 students who are attending Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) were airlifted from Srinagar airport to Jammu airport.
179 students were airlifted from Srinagar to Jammu and 180 civilians who got struck in Jammu were also airlifted to Srinagar, the spokesman added in a statement.
Likewise, he said 179 persons consisting of 140 students and 39 local residents including tourists were airlifted to Srinagar to Jammu.
“The students were specially relieved by this humanitarian concern of the armed forces and conveyed their special thanks to them for this timely effort which in a long way will shape up their career in times to come,” the spokesman said.
