Jammu, March 7 (IANS): The Indian Air Force Friday lifted 425 stranded passengers between Leh town of Jammu and Kashmir's Ladakh region and Jammu city on a request by the local administration, a defence spokesman said.

"Indian Air Force (IAF) once again came to the assistance of stranded civilian people today (Friday) when it launched special sortie to airlift 425 stranded passengers from Leh to Jammu and Jammu to Leh on being requisitioned by the civil administration," said the spokesman.

"An IL-76 transport aircraft was pressed into service to ferry the stranded passengers mostly hailing from Leh and Kargil districts. A total of 425 passengers including women and children were air lifted both ways," he added.

Air Force Station Jammu's commander, chief administrative officer and chief operations officer were present and personally supervised the smooth conduct of the operation, he said, adding the civilians expressed their gratitude to the IAF and the civil administration for ensuring that they would reach their homes safely and speedily.