New Delhi, November 3: Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh, Kavinder Gupta, on Monday met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi and discussed measures to strengthen humanitarian assistance and improve air connectivity in the Union Territory during the harsh winter months.
During the meeting, the Lt Governor briefed the Defence Minister on the unique challenges faced by residents of Ladakh due to extreme weather and prolonged road closures that isolate the region from the rest of the country. He sought the continued support of the Ministry of Defence under Operation Sadbhavana, an initiative of the Indian Army that has played a vital role in providing education, healthcare, and community welfare in remote areas.
Gupta emphasised the need to enhance air connectivity and logistics support to ensure uninterrupted supply of essentials and emergency evacuation during winter. He urged the Defence Minister to continue air services on the Kargil–Thoise–Chandigarh route and to increase air maintenance flights between Leh and Delhi to facilitate passenger movement and medical emergencies when road access is blocked by snow.
Expressing gratitude for the Army’s continued humanitarian efforts, the Lt Governor lauded the Ministry’s role in ensuring medical evacuations and supporting socio-economic development across Ladakh’s border areas.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh appreciated the concerns raised by the Lt Governor and assured full cooperation from the Ministry in coordination with other agencies to improve connectivity and expand the scope of welfare programmes in the region. (Agencies)
