11 flights bring 1,314 to Delhi

Aug 09, 2010 - Age Corespondent |

New Delhi

The civil aviation ministry said on Sunday that 11 commercial flights had been operated to Leh, with Air India and Jet Airways operating four flights each and Kingfisher operating three flights. The ministry said a total of 1,314 passengers were sent to Delhi by these flights on Sunday. About 200 more passengers were waiting on Sunday at Leh to board commercial flights while more foreign tourists who are trekking down the mountains to Leh are expected to join the rush to leave Leh on Monday. Both Air India and Jet said it would operate four flights each on the Delhi-Leh-Delhi sector on Monday. The ministry could consider asking airlines to increase flights from Leh to Delhi.
Civil aviation ministry secretary Madhavan Nambiar told this newspaper late on Sunday evening that airlines are charging reasonable fares from passengers. Both Air India and Jet said they were charging lower fares than normal. Air India said it was charging a fare of about Rs 9,000 which is lower than the usual Rs 11,000. The ministry had warned airlines on Saturday not to charge any excessive fares.
Meanwhile, in a bid to restore vital communication links, one IL-76 aircraft of the IAF transported BSNL equipment from New Delhi to Leh. Additional BSNL equipment was also airlifted by two AN-32 aircraft from Chandigarh. One heavy-duty bulldozer was airlifted from Chandigarh to Leh by an IL-76 aircraft to clear the debris. Senior IAF officer Air Marshal N.A.K. Browne, the air officer commanding-in-chief of the Western Air Command, under whose charge the northern sector falls, visited Leh airbase on Sunday to oversee the relief operations.
Medical items provided by the health ministry, relief material and 5,000 blankets were also airlifted from Delhi. Two tons of relief material was also taken to Leh by an AN-32 aircraft from Udhampur. One Cheetah helicopter placed at Leh was utilised for casualty evacuation of a Spanish citizen from Egu to Leh on Sunday. As many as 29 columns of the Army continue to be deployed for rescue and relief operations.

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