Landslides lead to suspension of Srinagar-PoK bus service
The weekly 'Karvan-e-Aman' service between Srinagar and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir was suspended on Monday.
Srinagar: The weekly 'Karvan-e-Aman' bus service between Srinagar and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) was suspended on Monday after landslides triggered by incessant rains blocked the 170-km road across the Line of Control (LoC).
The bus service scheduled for Monday was suspended after PoK authorities informed officials that the Uri-Muzaffarabad stretch was blocked at several places due to landslides. Passengers were then informed well in time about the suspension of the service.
Both sides of Kashmir have been experiencing intermittent snowfall in high altitude areas and incessant rains since Friday.
Launched on April 7, 2005, the bus service was considered as a major Confidence Building Measure (CBM) between India and Pakistan as it facilitates the meeting of divided families on either side of the LoC.
The bus does not cross the LoC but drops the passengers at 'Aman Sethu' (peace bridge) along the LoC in Uri sector.
Passengers from either side then cross the bridge on foot and board the waiting vehicles to reach their destinations.