Jammu, Feb 11 (IANS): The Indian Air Force (IAF) on Monday arranged special sorties to airlift 707 stranded passengers from winter capital Jammu to the Valley.

Defence Ministry spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Devender Anand said here: "The relief effort in J&K has been undertaken jointly by the Indian Air Force and the civil administration.

"For the 1st time, two C-17 aircraft airlifted 707 stranded students and civil passengers simultaneously from Air Force Station, Jammu.

"In the 1st sortie, a total of 301 and in 2nd sortie 406 passengers, including students, were airlifted from Jammu to Srinagar."

Jammu Air Commodore S.K. Mishra personally supervised the entire airlift operation at Jammu airbase, he said.

"All the passengers were also provided with food packets by the Tiger Division.

"The passengers were extremely thankful to the civil administration and the armed forces for a great humanitarian relief in the time of dire necessity," added Anand.