Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru
Bengaluru, April 23: Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs, Pralhad Joshi, has stated that measures have been initiated to evacuate tourists, including people from Karnataka, from various tourist locations in Kashmir. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is closely monitoring the situation and is taking appropriate decisions.
Addressing the media in New Delhi on Wednesday, Joshi further stated that airlines have been instructed not to increase air ticket fares while facilitating the safe evacuation of tourists from Pahalgam in Kashmir.
Providing further details, the minister noted that tourists are already being relocated from vulnerable tourist destinations in Kashmir to safer zones. Necessary arrangements are also being made to repatriate the bodies of those who lost their lives.
Rescue operations are actively underway to evacuate tourists from the site of the terrorist attack and other tourist hotspots in Kashmir. Airlines have been expressly directed not to impose higher fares for transporting tourists to safety, he said.
“I have spoken with the Civil Aviation Minister to ensure that there is no increase in air ticket fares. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also been instructed to monitor the matter closely,” Joshi added.
“Since 2019, peace had been established in Jammu and Kashmir, which could not be tolerated by cowards who committed this heinous act. The Central Government will respond appropriately,” said minister Joshi.
Strongly condemning the attack on tourists, Joshi stated that terrorists, unable to accept the success of the Centre’s anti-terrorism initiatives in Jammu and Kashmir, have resorted to such cowardly acts. He further assured that the government will implement even stricter measures to curb militant activities and restore peace in the valley at the earliest opportunity.
The state government has confirmed the deaths of two individuals from Karnataka in the Pahalgam tourist attack. The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) has announced that the body of Bharat Bhushan will be brought to Bengaluru via Mumbai on a flight scheduled for 3 pm today.
The body of Manjunath Rao will be transported to Shivamogga city via New Delhi, with the flight scheduled at 6 pm.
The CMO also confirmed that another victim, Madhusudhan Rao, a resident of Ramamurthy Nagar in Bengaluru, hails from Andhra Pradesh.
Minister for Labour, Santosh Lad, has reached Pahalgam in Kashmir and is coordinating with the family members of the deceased to expedite the necessary formalities for their return.
The director from the Karnataka government’s department of Tourism has instructed tour operators and travel agents to furnish details of all tourists who have travelled to Jammu and Kashmir. Additionally, relatives, friends, and family members of tourists currently visiting the region have been requested to provide their details through the designated helplines.