Pune (Maharashtra) [India], April 23 (ANI): In response to the tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) MP Supriya Sule has called on the Union government to take urgent steps to ensure the safe return of affected citizens.

'It is our responsibility to bring back our people safely,' Sule said, emphasising the need for immediate relief measures. 'We are in touch with the J&K Administration. I demand that airfare and railway ticket fares be subsidised to facilitate the return of our people.'

Sule also urged the central government to convene an all-party meeting. 'The government should call an all-party meeting and the country should get to know what actually happened,' she stated.

Meanwhile, air fares to major Indian cities have skyrocketed since the news of the terrorist attack broke out on Tuesday evening. Searches on the websites of airline operators either show elevated ticket prices or indicate that tickets are sold out.

For Thursday, April 24, an economy class ticket from Srinagar to Delhi will cost the traveller around Rs 11,000-13,000 via an Indigo flight. On Spicejet, it is Rs 11,000-12,000. On Air India, the cost would be approximately Rs 21,000 to Rs 23,000. These ticket prices are as per their respective websites at the time of writing this report.

Faced with an unprecedented demand from flyers, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu yesterday spoke to Union Home Minister Amit Shah about arranging more flights from Srinagar to Delhi and Mumbai.

'The Ministry of Civil Aviation has arranged four new flights, two each to Delhi and Mumbai. Based on demand, they are in touch with airlines to do more,' Ram Mohan Naidu's office said.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also noted that there is an unexpected demand from tourists seeking to return to their homes in the aftermath of the terrorist incident in Pahalgam.

In this regard, the civil aviation regulator has advised airlines to take swift action to increase the number of flights in response to heightened demand and also to ensure uninterrupted connectivity from Srinagar to various destinations across India, facilitating the evacuation of stranded tourists. The airlines are also requested to consider waiving cancellation and rescheduling fees and provide all necessary assistance to tourists.

Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah directed the state administration to ease the flow of traffic between Srinagar and Jammu for the tourists trying to leave the valley for their homes. He said that it was heartbreaking yet understandable to see tourists leaving the valley after the brutal terrorist attacks, which took several lives and left many injured. The CM stated that traffic facilitation must be done in a controlled manner, as the road remains unstable.

He said that the government was making efforts to clear all the stranded vehicles. 'We are also working hard to clear all the stranded vehicles. We will not be able to permit completely free movement of vehicles at the moment & we hope that everyone will cooperate with us,' Abdullah said.

Some tourists have decided to cut their trips to the Kashmir Valley short in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack, resulting in increased demand for flight tickets from Srinagar. The Director General of Civil Aviation (DGC) has now requested airlines to increase the number of flights to and from Srinagar amid heightened tensions.

'The airlines are also requested to consider waiving cancellation and rescheduling fees and provide all necessary assistance to tourists facing unexpected circumstances and challenges during this difficult time,' the advisory read.

In the aftermath of the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) team visited the Pahalgam terror attack site to support the Jammu and Kashmir (J-K) Police in probing the attack. It was one of the biggest terror attacks in the region after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.

The government, however, has yet to officially confirm the number of casualties in the terror attack in Pahalgam.

Following the terror attack, security forces launched search operations to track down the terrorists responsible. Security has been heightened since the attack, with visuals from the area showing the streets deserted in the usually bustling tourist area. Many organisations have also called for a Jammu bandh following the attack. (ANI)