Stranded tourists return from J&K

The first batch of 65 tourists from Maharashtra stranded in Jammu and Kashmir landed in Mumbai early Thursday as part of the evacuation efforts launched by the Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

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Efforts were also being made for the safe return of the other tourists soon, state minister Girish Mahajan said.

Shinde went to Srinagar Wednesday evening to expedite the process of bringing back tourists stuck in Jammu and Kashmir after 26 persons, including six from Maharashtra, were killed in the Pahalgam terror attack Tuesday.

Following the dreadful terrorist attack in Pahalgam, the first special flight carrying 65 stranded Maharashtrian tourists arrived in Mumbai at 3:30 am April 24 at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport,” a Shiv Sena functionary said.

“This is part of a coordinated row. The chief minister’s OSD is in Delhi helping passengers with ticketing arrangements.”