In the wake of repeated faults in planes carrying Haj pilgrims from Srinagar, the Union home ministry on Monday summoned civil aviation officials following a strong protest by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad.
Civil Aviation Secretary Ashok Chawla, along with officials, was called by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and later by Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta after an Air India plane's wheel caught fire while landing at Srinagar airport on Monday morning.
After two rounds of meetings, the civil aviation ministry assured the home ministry that they would try to ensure that no such mishap occurs and also the speedy clearance of pilgrims stranded at the airport on Monday.
One of the tyres of an Air India plane on Monday caught fire after landing at Srinagar airport.
The plane had come to pick up Haj pilgrims bound for Saudi Arabia.
The inner wheel of the rear side of the plane caught fire while it was taxiing along the tarmac.
The pilgrims are stranded while the airlines is now making efforts to bring in another plane to ferry them.
A plane meant to carry Haj pilgrims had developed a technical fault following which the flight was delayed by eight hours on Sunday.
After Monday's incident, Azad spoke to Patil and the home secretary and sought their intervention as Haj pilgrims were suffering because of the defective planes, the sources said.
Azad would also be taking up the matter with Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel on his return from Dubai where he has gone to attend an air show.
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