Srinagar: Only three guests from Pakistan-administered-Kashmir (PaK) arrived here this afternoon while 27 Kashmiris crossed over to the other side of the Line of Control(LoC) as the week
ly Karvan-e-Aman bus run resumed today.
Official sources said after remaining suspended on January 16 and 23 due to snowfall and apprehension of avalanches on both sides of the LoC, the bus service, ferrying families divided in 1947 between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad, capital of PaK, resumed.
As many as 48 returnees also crossed sides at Kaman post, the last Indian military post on LoC in Uri sector.
They said three PaK guests arrived at Kaman post after crossing the Aman Setu (Peace Bridge), on foot this afternoon.
The number of PaK guests visiting the Kashmir valley has declined in winter because of severe cold.
There was no guest on January 2 and only two on January 9 this year.
They said 33 Kashmiris, including 11 women and four children, who had gone to PaK in previous buses, also returned to their homes.
Sources said 27 Kashmiris, including 15 women and a child, crossed over to other side of the LoC to meet their relatives, separated in 1947.
However, 15 PaK residents, including 4 women and three children, who had arrived here in previous buses, also returned to their homes after completing their stay here.
The service was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh when he flagged off first bus from here to Muzaffarabad, capital of PaK on April 7, 2005 despite threat by militant organisations, who carried out a fidayeen attack on passengers staying in Tourist Reception Centre (TRC) before their departure for PaK.
However, barring chairman of the breakaway Hurriyat Conference (HC) and Democratic Freedom Party (SFP) chief Shabir Ahmad Shah, almost all separatist leaders travelled to PaK and Pakistan in the bus.
The service has so far benefited more than ten thousand families, divided in 1947, to meet each other. (KMW News)
