Stranded PoK residents to return by Poonch-Rawalakote route

SRINAGAR: Residents of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir ( PoK), who were stranded in flood-hit Kashmir, have been allowed by the Centre to return to their homes via Poonch-Rawalakote route in Jammu region.

"The Ministry (of External Affairs) has approved return of PoK residents, who had arrived through Srinagar- Muzaffarabad route, from the other route," Regional Passport Officer Srinagar Firdous Iqbal told PTI.

He said that nearly 60 PoK residents had come to Kashmir through Srinagar-Muzaffaraabad route but were stranded in the Valley following the floods.

"We will be extending the permit of those who have overstayed due to floods. This is an unprecedented situation and we need to deal with it accordingly," Iqbal said.

Karavan-e-Aman (Peace Caravan) bus service on Srinagar- Muzaffarabad and Poonch Rawalakote roads was started in April 2005 as a confidence building measure between India and Pakistan.

The bus service, which operates every Monday, has been suspended after the floods hit Kashmir on September 1.