Irfan A Mir

Srinagar, 08 May, (KNS): Hundreds of Kashmiri’s stranded in Dubai Friday appealed Indian authorities to arrange direct flights from Dubai to Srinagar for their smooth return to Valley in wake of Covid-19 pandemic. However Baseer Ahmad Khan, Advisor to Lt Governor assured that he will take up the issue with officials of administration and try to ease out hardships faced by stranded Kashmiri’s.

Talking to Kashmir News Service (KNS) on phone from Dubai, Shakeel Ahmad a representative of stranded Kashmiri’s appealed Indian authorities to ensure their return to Kashmir without any further delay.

He said there are almost 400 Kashmiri’s stranded in parts of Dubai including elderly, kids, pregnant women and other patients suffering from different ailments. “All stranded Kashmiri’s are in distress as their repeated pleas didn’t yield any positive response so far”, he said.

He added that although we were called by Indian Consulate in Dubai yesterday but they are facilitating our return only to New Delhi where there is a fear that incoming Kashmiri’s to be quarantined in an ‘unfavourable’ atmosphere which is beyond the patience of elders and pregnant women.

Shakeel further added that we clarified the officials in Indian Consulate that stranded Kashmiri’s should be facilitated direct from Dubai to Srinagar airport after which they will voluntarily put themselves before authorities for medical formalities. “It is impossible for us to be quarantined in New Delhi as there is rise in temperature which is intolerable for us, so our request to Indian officials is to ensure our return in a direct flight from Dubai to Srinagar”, Shakeel said.

Meanwhile Baseer Ahmad Khan, Advisor to Lt Governor while talking to KNS said he will take up the issue with administration and try utmost to ease out hardships faced by Kashmiri’s stranded in Dubai. (KNS)