JAMMU, FEBRUARY 08: State Government is making all efforts in facilitating the passengers stuck at various places due to closure of National Highway as well as cancellation of flights.
Several people including student from Srinagar who had to appear for the second phase of the Graduate Aptitude Test Exam (GATE) in Jammu missed their flights and were not able to travel via road as the National Highway was also blocked due to heavy snowfall.
Similarly, hundreds of Kashmiri pilgrims after performing Umrah at Saudi Arabia reached New Delhi but could not travel further because of cancellation of flights to Srinagar.
Taking cognizance of the matter, Governor Satya Pal Malik directed the administration for making alternate travel arrangements for all such people stranded at Srinagar and Delhi, an official spokesman said.
Acting on the Governor’s directions, the State government immediately requested Union Defence Ministry to help in this regard after which 179 students were flown to Jammu through a special aircraft provided by Air Force authorities for appearing in GATE, said the spokesman.
Similarly, the Union Civil Aviation Ministry was requested seeking their help in taking stranded pilgrims back to Srinagar who had missed their flights because of non-operation of flights to valley.
On the request made by the state government, 180 passengers have been flown back in Air India Flight 2827 landed at Srinagar Airport later in the day and the remaining passengers are scheduled to fly back to Srinagar on Saturday. All necessary arrangements including their stay in New Delhi has also been made by Air India, spokesman said.
The team of Resident Commissioner New Delhi is in constant touch with these people ensuring all possible help to them.
The spokesman further said that since the matter came into the notice of the government, Advisor’s to Governor’s and Chief Secretary are continuously monitoring the steps taken in this regard and are being regularly informed of the progress in this regard.
Centres set up for GATE aspirants in Kashmir
Srinagar: Appreciating the difficulties faced by the Kashmiri GATE aspirants, the ministry of Human Resource development (MHRD) has set up six exam centres in Kashmir.
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Syed Abid Rashid Shah said the exam centres were set up in Kashmir after the personal intervention of chief secretary of J&K state.
Shah announced the development on Twitter saying the GATE aspirants in Kashmir will get the detailed message from IIT Madras which is the coordinating authority for exact allocation of centres.
“The aspirants will get the information about their centre details on their registered mobile numbers and email,” Shah said.
As per the notification, the GATE exam centres have been setup at Haktech IT service Sidco industrial estate, near IT tower Rangreth, KITE polytechnic at Wawoosa Rangreth, Eshai Online Services Bishamber Nagar, Munwarabad, Faster Computer Education Rawalpora, Infotech Computer Education and SSM college of engineering and Technology Diver Parihaspora.
“The GATE aspirants who have to appear in GATE tomorrow and day after (February 09 ad 10) will be allotted exam centres among these centres notified by the IIT Madras,” the notification reads.
Meanwhile, an official said the exam centres have been set up for around 1050 students from the valley. “MHRD must have included those students who missed their exam on February 02 and 03. The students should check if they get any sms or email from IIT Madras,” the official said.
