Amid aerial threat, Kashmir hospitals paint red cross on roof tops

In view of escalation in tension between India and Pakistan, all government hospitals in Kashmir have been directed to paint red-cross signs on the rooftops of the buildings, according to reports. The Jammu and Kashmir government have also passed an order to take necessary steps to upgrade the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC) at Srinagar’s Humhama. “Take such necessary steps as required to enable the SEOC in having live audio-visual and data connectivity with otherwise inaccessible and disaster-prone areas1valleyJmountain passes of the State,” reads the order.

“Utilize funds placed at its disposal by the State Executive Committee of n the State Disaster Management Authority for this Project in accordance with normal guidelines,” the order reads further.

The central government has closed several airports close to the Line of Control (LoC) for commercial traffic. According to government sources, flights to Jammu, Srinagar, Chandigarh, Leh, Amritsar, Pathankot, Dehradun and Dharamshala have been suspended till further notice. "The civilian air traffic has been suspended temporarily in view of the emergency," an official of the Airport Authority of India told news agency PTI. Official sources said that the entire airspace north of Delhi has been vacated.

Pakistan has also shut down all its airport. "All Pakistan airports have been shut down. Flight operations have been suspended in Multan, Islamabad, Lahore, Sialkot, and Faisalabad,” news agency ANI reported. 

Earlier in the day, India shot down Pakistan Air Force’s F-16 fighter jet after an airspace violation in Jammu and Kashmir’s Nowshera sector on Wednesday morning. The fighter jet was shot down in Indian retaliatory fire 3 KM within Pakistan territory in Lam valley, Nowshera sector. The latest development comes amid reports of Pakistan violating airspace in the Rajouri district. "The jets entered into Indian air space over Nowshera sector this morning." The Pakistani jet was immediately pushed back by Indian planes on air patrol but not before dropping bombs. Nowshera is a border town in Jammu, news agency PTI reported.