Air services to Srinagar suspended for three days

SRINAGAR - Air services to and from Srinagar have been suspended for the next three days and flights to Srinagar were being diverted to the Awantipora airbase since September 3 due to resurfacing work at the only civilian airport. This is expected to be completed by September 15.

Meanwhile, curfew has been extended to all major towns of the Kashmir Valley as a precautionary measure after Monday’s violent clashes in which 17 persons dead and several injured.

According to sources, curfew was imposed in fresh areas as a precautionary measure and to prevent people from pouring out onto roads and streets.

Srinagar, Anantnag, Bijbehara, Awantipora, Lethpora, Pampore and Pulwama towns in south Kashmir and Sopore town in north Kashmir are already under curfew since Sunday.

The new areas that have been brought under the ambit of prohibitory orders include Budgam town, Choon, Mirgund, Ompora, Narkara, Shekhpora, Humhama, I.G.Road, Gulwanpora, Nadir Gund, Chadoora and Wathoora in central Kashmir’s Budgam district.
Curfew was also imposed in Ganderbal and Kangan towns, Kulgam, Qoimoh, Shopian town, Baramulla town, Tangmarg, Kupwara town, Tregham, Kralpora, Handwara, Chotipora, Kulangam and Bandipora town.

Miscreants pelted stones at some places on Monday and set on fire a school Block Development Offices, Court chamber, Tehsildar’s official Vehicle and residence, social welfare office, Patwar office, besides two huts of Tourism Department in Tangmarg and a house and railway hut in Humhama area of Budgam district.

Stone pelting was also reported from KP road, Anantnag areas.

Earlier, violent mob put on fire the Tyandale Biscoe School.

At Humhama, violent mobs put on fire one Railway hut and an abandoned house belonging to the minority community.

The cycle of violence has led to frequent shutdowns and curfew in the Valley for the past three months. (ANI)