500 Tourists from Maharashtra Have Returned to the State So Far

Mumbai : Following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis issued immediate instructions, and as a result, around 500 tourists from Maharashtra have returned to the state over the past two days. The state government arranged two special flights, operated by IndiGo and Air India, which brought back 184 tourists to Mumbai. Additionally, another special flight is scheduled for tomorrow to bring back 232 more passengers.

Chief Minister Fadnavis had directed Disaster Management Minister Girish Mahajan to proceed to Kashmir immediately after the incident. Today, Fadnavis reviewed the overall situation with Mahajan. “If more special flights are required tomorrow, arrange them—the state government will bear the cost,” the Chief Minister stated. During his visit to the army hospital treating injured tourists from Maharashtra, Minister Mahajan facilitated a video call between CM Fadnavis and the patients. Fadnavis expressed his gratitude to the doctors for their dedicated care.

A three-tier coordination mechanism has been activated, involving the Mantralaya (state secretariat), the Chief Minister’s Office, and Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi, to assist tourists from all corners of the state. Accommodation was arranged at Kalika Dham in Jammu for some tourists, including a group of 14 from Amravati. A few others have managed to travel from Jammu to Delhi by any means available, and arrangements are being made for them in the capital.

Tomorrow’s special flight from Kashmir is expected to bring back tourists from Akola and Amravati. Maharashtra Sadan in Delhi is continuously preparing updated lists of passengers. If necessary, the state government is ready to arrange additional special flights to ensure all affected tourists are safely brought back.