Shimla : Following a five-day suspension due to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan and related security concerns, the authorities had decided to resume flight operations in Himachal Pradesh starting Monday (May 12, 2025).
However, disruptions continued on Tuesday, particularly at Bhuntar airport where scheduled flights to Dehradun and Jaipur were cancelled for the second consecutive day.
Security officials have cited ongoing safety concerns as the reason behind the delay in resuming services from Bhuntar. There is cautious optimism, though, as regular flights from Bhuntar airport are expected to resume within the next couple of days.
Gaggal Airport in Kangra also remained inactive until noon on Tuesday, with no flights arriving. In contrast, flight services from Jubbarhatti airport in Shimla have reportedly resumed, marking a phased return to normalcy in air travel across the state.
In a parallel development, the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) has restored bus services on previously suspended routes, including those to Amritsar, Pathankot and Jammu.
These routes were halted as a precautionary measure after the Indian Air Force launched strikes on terrorist hideouts in Pakistan under Operation Sindoor.
Despite the resumption of bus services, night travel remains sparse, with many passengers reluctant to travel after dark. As a result, HRTC has not deployed buses on certain routes during night hours. Online bookings have reopened, though passenger numbers remain low.
A senior HRTC official stated that once passenger demand picks up, full-scale night services will also be resumed.
The temporary suspension of all three airports in Himachal —Bhuntar, Gaggal and Jubbarhatti — and bus routes near sensitive border regions was part of the state’s heightened security measures following cross-border military activity. With gradual restoration underway, authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.
TNR News Network
