ID :
16631
Fri, 08/22/2008 - 16:10
Auther :

Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service resumes

service, which was temporarily suspended last week in the wake of violence over Amarnath land row, resumed here Thursday with 61 passengers leaving for Pakistan-occupied Kashmir(PoK).

Out of the 61 passengers, 58 were returning home toMuzaffarabad, officials said.

"Today's bus service was arranged in order to clear the backlog of last week," they said, adding the fortnightly busservice will also ply as scheduled on August 28.

The bus service was suspended on August 14 in the wake of violence in the valley after five persons including Hurriyat leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz were killed in police firing on a rally marching towards Muzaffarabad to end the "economic blockade" enforced by Sri Amarnath Yatra Sangarsh Samiti inJammu.

The violence left a total of 22 people dead inKashmir but the Valley has been calm for a few days.

The bus service was started in April 2005. It could not operate for a brief period after a massive earthquake on October 8 the same year damaged a big stretch of the road onthe other side.

Members of divided families from both sides of LoC take the fortnightly bus service, which will be made weekly very soon following an agreement between India and Pakistan. PTI

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