Karnataka government brings back 175 tourists stranded in Kashmir

In a swift and coordinated rescue effort, the Karnataka government on Thursday safely evacuated 175 tourists who had been stranded in Jammu and Kashmir. The special flight carrying the evacuees touched down at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) in Bengaluru around noon.

The rescue operation was spearheaded by Labour Minister Santosh Lad, who was personally dispatched to Jammu and Kashmir following instructions from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Mr. Lad arrived in Jammu and Kashmir in the early hours of Wednesday and immediately began coordinating the search and evacuation efforts. As part of the operation, he visited nearly 11 accommodation facilities across the region to locate and assist tourists from Karnataka who had been trapped in the valley. His efforts began with identifying the mortal remains of two victims.

Special arrangements were made by the government to ensure the transportation of their bodies, which were flown back to Bengaluru on the same flight, accompanied by their family members.

Describing the situation on the ground, Mr. Lad recounted the trauma of what he witnessed in Kashmir. “The scenes were heart-wrenching. I could not sleep even for a single minute in the last two days,” he told The Hindu.

Once the Karnataka tourists were identified and gathered, arrangements were made for a special chartered flight for those who were unable to secure return tickets independently. A total of 175 tourists were airlifted on this flight.

Mr. Lad confirmed that an additional 20 to 22 tourists remain in Kashmir and are expected to return shortly via commercial flights. Mr. Lad promised that the government will continue to provide support and assistance to ensure the safe return of all remaining citizens.