Air Traffic Grounded, Highway Closed, Schools Shut; Exams Postponed
SUHAIL KHAN
SRINAGAR, May 08: Life in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir remained paralyzed for the second consecutive day on Thursday following Operation Sindoor—a major strike by India using advanced weapon systems, including loitering munitions, on terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
The operation was launched in response to the Pahalgam attack on April 22, which killed 26 people. Reports reaching Kashmir Despatch said minimal activity in markets across both Jammu and Kashmir divisions after the successful execution of Operation Sindoor.
Amid an eerie calm, tensions persist in the region since Wednesday night, when India launched the operation, leading to escalated shelling along the Line of Control (LoC).
The closure of Srinagar International Airport, coupled with the shutdown of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway due to landslides, has severely disrupted travel. Patients requiring outside medical treatment have been particularly affected. Additionally, the suspension of air services has hindered the supply of life-saving drugs for patients with critical illnesses, which are typically sourced from other states.
Srinagar Airport, which handled nearly 20,000 passengers daily during peak tourist season, has seen a dramatic drop in both passenger numbers and flight operations since the terror attack.
Official figures show a 45% decline in passengers and a 19% reduction in flights after April 22. On May 7, all airport operations were halted, with no resumption expected until at least May 10.
Javed Anjum, Director of Srinagar Airport, highlighted the severity of the situation: “Traffic has been badly hit after the terror attack. Before the incident, we were handling an average of 20,000 passengers daily. Now, everything is at a standstill.”
An anonymous airport official confirmed to Kashmir Despatch that the airfield is now under Indian Air Force (IAF) control, further restricting civil aviation. “All flights are canceled until May 10 due to security concerns. There is no clarity amid the ongoing India-Pakistan tensions,” the official said.
Between April 1 and April 22, Srinagar Airport recorded 1,920 flights carrying over 366,000 passengers. From April 23 to May 8, the numbers plummeted to just 1,162 flights and 147,090 passengers.
The heightened security situation has impacted other airports in northern and western India, with at least 25 airports temporarily closed. Major airports like Pathankot and Chandigarh, as well as smaller ones in Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, and Gujarat, have been affected.
Since the IAF’s precision strikes in PoK on May 7 as part of Operation Sindoor, over 300 flights have been canceled. Airlines such as IndiGo and SpiceJet have suspended operations to and from Srinagar, Amritsar, Leh, and Jammu.
Highway Blocked Due to Landslides
Heavy rains triggered landslides, blocking the Jammu-Srinagar Highway—the only road link connecting Kashmir to the rest of India. Multiple stretches in Ramban district, including Trishul Morh and Seri Chamba, were affected. Officials reported that restoration efforts were underway but hampered by ongoing rainfall.
Stranded vehicles stretched for kilometers as mounds of earth and rocks buried sections of the road. Tourists, many of whom arrived after the April 22 Pahalgam attack, now find themselves trapped.
“We just wanted a peaceful holiday, but now we’re stuck. Our return flight was canceled, and we can’t even drive out,” said Preeti Sharma, a tourist from Delhi.
Zuby, another Delhi resident, expressed concern but praised Kashmiri hospitality: “We’re not afraid of the border tensions, but the sudden airport closure and highway block due to heavy rains are worrying. However, the people here treat us like family. Despite the challenges, Kashmiris have been incredibly kind—there’s no comparison in the world.”
She added, *”We’ve truly enjoyed our time here and hope the highway reopens soon so we can return home.”
In light of escalating tensions, authorities ordered the closure of schools and colleges in several Jammu and Kashmir districts on May 9 and 10. The Director of School Education Kashmir announced that government and private institutions in Baramulla, Kupwara, Gurez Sub-Division, and areas near Srinagar and Awantipora Airports would remain shut.
The Divisional Commissioner of Jammu declared closures in Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Rajouri, and Poonch districts for May 9, urging public cooperation during the tense situation.
University Exams Postponed
The preparation and formulation of the Annual Teacher Training Plan have been postponed. An official statement read: “The Training Need Analysis launch scheduled for May 9 at SCERT Complex Bemina, Srinagar, has been deferred due to unavoidable circumstances. A new date will be announced later.”
Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU), Rajouri, postponed all exams scheduled between May 13 and 17. A notification stated: “Fresh dates will be announced later. Exams from May 19 onward remain unchanged.” Students were advised to check updates via their departments or the university website. Jammu University also delayed the JKSET/LASET examinations until further notice.
