New Delhi [India], April 24 (ANI): Samajwadi Party (SP) Chief Akhilesh Yadav has strongly criticised the increase in airfares from Jammu and Kashmir's Srinagar following the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people.

Taking to the social media platform X on Thursday, Yadav called the rise in airfares 'highly objectionable' and 'highly reprehensible'.

He condemned the arbitrary charging of increased fares to tourists during such a tragic incident, saying that it cannot be justified under any circumstances.

He further questioned the government's role in this issue, asking for clarification on whether the government was responsible for the exorbitant fare increases.

'The news of exorbitant increases in airfares from Srinagar is inhuman and highly condemnable. Charging arbitrary fares from tourists at the time of such a tragedy cannot be justified in any way. The government should clarify whether it is responsible for 'exorbitant fare collection' or not,' the SP chief said.

'The tax related to the fare goes to the government, which means the public believes that all this is happening with the connivance of the government,' he added.

The SP Chief's remarks come after reports surfaced that airlines had raised ticket prices for flights departing from Srinagar in the wake of the terror attack.

Earlier searches on the websites of airline operators revealed either elevated ticket prices or indicated that tickets were sold out from Srinagar to other parts of the country in the wake of the terror attack.

Anyone trying to book a ticket for Wednesday would encounter messages such as 'all flights are too close to departure, 'sold out,' or 'unfortunately, there are no flights available.'

On Wednesday, flights for today, April 24, showed economy class tickets from Srinagar to Delhi at around Rs 11,000-13,000 via an Indigo flight. On Spicejet, it is Rs 11,000-12,000. On Air India, the cost would be approximately Rs 21,000 to Rs 23,000. These ticket prices were as per their respective websites at the time of writing the earlier report on April 24. Airfares from Srinagar to Mumbai also remain elevated.

Faced with unprecedented demand from flyers, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu on Tuesday spoke with Union Home Minister Amit Shah about arranging additional flights from Srinagar to Delhi and Mumbai. The civil aviation minister has been monitoring fares to prevent them from spiking in this situation.

'The minister is monitoring the situation around the clock to facilitate more requirements. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has arranged four new flights, two each to Delhi and Mumbai. Based on demand, they are in touch with airlines to do more,' Ram Mohan Naidu's office said.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) also noted that there is an unexpected demand from tourists seeking to return to their homes in the aftermath of the terrorist incident in Pahalgam.

In this regard, the civil aviation regulator has advised airlines to take swift action to increase the number of flights in response to heightened demand and also to ensure uninterrupted connectivity from Srinagar to various destinations across India, facilitating the evacuation of stranded tourists.

The airlines are also requested to consider waiving cancellation and rescheduling fees and provide all necessary assistance to tourists facing unexpected circumstances and challenges during this difficult time. (ANI)