The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Tuesday lifted 286 stranded passengers of Union Territory (UT) of Ladakh, which remained cut off from the Kashmir valley after the 434-km-long Srinagar-Leh national highway was closed for winter months from January Ist, 2021 due to accumulation of snow and slippery road condition.

Chief Coordinator Kargil Courier Service Aamir Ali said here this afternoon that the stranded passengers were airlifted in in C-130, C-17and AN-32 Aircrafts of IAF between J&K and Ladakh today.
He said said 21 passengers were airlifted from Leh to Srinagar, 35 from Srinagar to Kargil, 19 from Kargil to Srinagar, 21 from Jammu to Kargil, 70 from Kargil to Jammu and 120 from Leh to Jammu.
He said that the passengers expressed their gratitude to IAF authorities, CEC LAHDC Kargil, Divisional Commissioner Ladakh and Deputy Commissioner Kargil for facilitating the aircrafts.
He said AN-32 Kargil Courier Service operates thrice a week between Kargil –Jammu and twice a week between Kargil-Srinagar, due to closure of the highway. However, the highway is through between Kargil and Leh.
Aamir Ali said the Kargil Courier was cancelled due to recent bad weather and Ladakh Administration made a request to the Ministry of Defence, Government of India to deploy C-17, C-130 and AN-32 aircrafts to cater to the backlog. He said on Wednesday another sortie of AN-32 Kargil Courier has been planned between Kargil-Srinagar and Kargil-Jammu. The passengers have been asked to contact the concerned Liaison Officers.