*Last batch of 310 pilgrims land in Leh
Excelsior Correspondent
KARGIL, May 17: Chairman and Chief Executive Councillor, LAHDC, Kargil Feroz Ahmad Khan today said that as a part of the continued process to ensure the homecoming of stranded Ladakhi people from different parts of the country, evacuation of more than 85% stranded residents and students of Kargil has been completed till date.
The CEC stated this while addressing media persons at Tourist Facilitation Center, here today.
The CEC said that the last batch of more than 310 Ladakhi pilgrims stranded in Iran for the last over 2 months has finally landed at Leh today morning through 2 special aircrafts of the Air India, out of which 290 Kargili pilgrims were expected to reach Kargil this afternoon.
“The Iran returnees will go for institutional quarantine at the quarantine facilities set up by the Administration in various hotels and resorts in the district. Due medicare and other requisite facilities would be given to the pilgrims during quarantine besides their COVID-19 tests would also be conducted as a precautionary measure”, the CEC said.
The CEC expressed his gratitude to the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Mahan Airways, Lieutenant Governor Ladakh RK Mathur and the Divisional Commissioner Ladakh Saugat Biswas for facilitating the arrangement of flights for the pilgrims from Tehran to Delhi and Leh.
Khan said that booking of tickets for all 310 pilgrims was done well in advance for which funds were arranged on loan from the District Red Cross Fund Kargil.
He thanked the Advisor to LG Umang Narula for his timely consent and Deputy Commissioner and Chairman District Red Cross Society Kargil Baseer ul Haq Choudhary for facilitating timely advance payment to Air India for booking of tickets.
Terming the homecoming of the last batch of pilgrims as a huge relief to the Administration and their families alike, Khan extended his thankfulness to all the concerned Ministries, Government and private agencies as well as individuals for their active role in the process.
The CEC also expressed his gratitude to Anjman e Jamiatul Ulema Isna Ashariya Kargil (AJUIAK), Imam Khomeini Memorial Trust (IKMT), Kargil, other religious and political organizations in the district, Panchayat Coordination Committee, Kargil and the media fraternity of Kargil for their continued support to the LAHDC Kargil for raising and highlighting the concerns of the stranded pilgrims with the concerned authorities.
Khan also hailed the Doctors Association Kargil for offering to perform voluntary overtime services to conduct the testing of the last batch of Iran returnees besides extending them required medical attention as and when need arises.
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