India and Pakistan have closed down several airports following the escalation of tension between the two countries.
As tension between India and Pakistan mounted following violation of Indian airspace by Pak Air Force's fighter jets, both countries closed down several airports, most of them near the border.
Srinagar, Jammu and Leh airports were among five airports closed for civilian air traffic shortly after an IAF jet crashed in Kashmir's Budgam district, officials said. Airports at Chandigarh and Amritsar were among those closed, according to airline officials.
The move to close the five airports comes amid escalation of tension between India and Pakistan after IAF carried out strikes on terror bases in Pakistan.
While Chandigarh was later opened, airports in Shimla, Dharamshala, Kullu and Leh have been now closed.
In Srinagar, an official of the Airports Authority of India told PTI, "The civilian air traffic has been suspended temporarily in view of the emergency".
While the official did not specify the nature of the emergency, it is believed the step was taken in view of an IAF jet crashing in Budgam district this morning.
Officials said they received instructions from air traffic controllers that the airports have been shut for civilian flights.
Some of the flights en route to Jammu, Leh and Srinagar airports have been diverted to their origin stations, they added.
The flare up in the cross-LoC shelling, which was initiated by Pakistani troops in early hours of Wednesday, has also resulted in security forces and other establishments being put on a heightened alert.
Airports in Pakistan closed
Pakistan immediately stopped its domestic and international flight operations from Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Sialkot and Islamabad airports following the tension.
International flights that transit between Indian and Pakistani airspace are now being affected. While some flights are returning to origin, others appear to be seeking alternate routes.
(With PTI inputs)
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