A batch of 250 students and pilgrims who were stranded in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan were airlifted to Kashmir and Ladakh, on Friday. They had been put in quarantine at Jaisalmer on March 15 after their evacuation from Iran.
An official said of 250 persons, around 53 landed atSrinagar airport while the rest of them were airlifted to Ladakh.
“A total of 600 students and pilgrims who were stranded atJaisalmer have been airlifted so far,” said deputy commissioner Srinagar,Shahid Iqbal Choudhary.
Meanwhile, Kashmiri families and students stranded in otherstates are persistently demanding their evacuation.
“I am the resident of district Kulgam in Kashmir and I amcurrently stuck in Mumbai. I want to return home because of variousdifficulties I am facing here. Please help us so that government of J&Kwill take it serious and evacuate us,” said Nadeem Ahmad in an email to GreaterKashmir.
Similarly, dozens of families and workers includinglabourers who were not earning these days in view of the lockdown urged theadministration to airlift them.
“We are some families stranded in Delhi but we have our carsavailable with us. We request the J&K administration to allow us to travelin our cars to Kashmir. We will go for home quarantine in Kashmir,” saidanother resident from Kashmir.
Around a dozen students including were currently stranded inAgra due to the lockdown. The students appealed to Uttar Pradesh government andJ&K administration to make necessary arrangements for their evacuation.
“We are running short of money and basic necessities aswell. The number of COVID19 cases in Agra is also increasing. J&Kadministration should come forward and evacuate us,” a student said.
Another resident from Kashmir who is stranded in Sonipat,Haryana said they were facing hard times while.
“It is really becoming hard to survive here and all of usare in a state of agony and depression. We appeal to J&K administration totake some measures for our evacuation so that we join our families in the holymonth of Ramadan,” said Muhammad Amin Malik.
The Deputy Commissioner said the discussion about evacuationof patients and other old-aged persons stranded in different parts of thecountry was going on at administrative level.