Srinagar, April 7
Militant threats and ill health forced eight passengers of the inaugural Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus to drop their plans at the 11th hour with the “Karvaan-e-Aman” (Peace Caravan) vehicle carrying only 19 visitors to Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK).

An elderly couple and their son, disembarked from the bus after it covered the distance of 6 km from the stadium.

Official sources attributed health as the reason for their getting down from the bus. The sources said a senior member of the family developed chest pain and complained of breathlessness.

The driver immediately stopped the bus to unload the passenger along with his family members.

One Mr Ghulam Ahmed Wani of Bagh-e-Mehtab, who had also reserved tickets in the bus, was reported missing since Sunday. In fact, his son had approached the court to know his whereabouts.

Four other passengers had not checked in at the Tourist Reception Centre, which was targeted by the militants yesterday afternoon. It is learnt that some passengers opted out due to militant threats.

Two passengers were not allowed to undertake the historic journey as the authorities did not find their travel documents in order.

Ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) President Mehbooba Mufti, who was denied permission by the Pakistan authorities to travel to Muzaffarabad in the bus, accompanied 80-year-old Sher Bibi in the bus up to Salamabad.

It was a dream come true for two drivers of the State Road Transport Corporation (SRTC) — Ghulam Ahmed Wani and Ghulam Nabi Wani — to take members of the divided family to reunite with their kith and kins on the other side of the Line of Control (LOC). — UNI