Srinagar/Poonch: The Karwan-e-Aman bus (a bus service cross LoC) remained suspended for seventh consecutive week due to repair work at the Kaman bridge, which connects Kashmir valley with Pakistan-administered-Kashmir, said an official.
An official said that repair work was still going on at the bridge at Kaman post, the last Indian military post on this side of the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri sector.
“Once the repair work is completed and we receive green signal, the cross-LoC bus will be resumed,” he said.
He said that all the passengers who were scheduled to travel in the bus on Monday have been informed about the cancellation of the bus.
They will now be adjusted in the bus, next week, he added.
Meanwhile, as many as 19 passengers, including eight women, exchanged sides as the weekly cross-LoC bus service resumed on Monday after remaining suspended for the past two weeks owing to heavy shelling along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said.
Thirteen Pakistan administered Kashmir (PaK) residents, including six women, returned to their homes after spending time with their relatives on this side after reaching Chakan-da-Bagh crossing point by the weekly bus, they said.
Similarly, the officials said, five Indian residents, including two women, walked into this side along with a PaoK resident who has come to meet his relatives in Poonch district.
The bus service, popularly known as ‘Paigam-e-Aman’ (message of peace), plies on Monday every week.
The cross-LoC trade between the two sides, which works on barter system, started in October 2008.
However, the trade, which takes place four days a week from Tuesday to Friday, also could not take place during the past fortnight in view of the tension along the borders.
