JAMMU, February 26: The Indian Air Force (IAF) executed the airlifting of 260 stranded passengers between the twin union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on Monday, according to an official statement. This brings the total number of passengers airlifted by the AN-32 aircraft, known as the Kargil Courier, to 1,551 since the service commenced on January 22. The initiative was launched in response to the closure of the 434-km Srinagar-Leh national highway due to heavy snowfall.

Operating three days a week between Jammu and Srinagar, and twice a week between Srinagar and Kargil, the Kargil Courier service aims to facilitate the transportation of stranded passengers. On Monday, a total of 260 passengers were airlifted, with 113 traveling from Srinagar to Kargil, 93 from Jammu to Kargil, 38 from Kargil to Srinagar, and 16 from Kargil to Jammu in two separate aircraft.