After 58 yrs, Poonch-Rawalakot bus rolls

The much-awaited bus service, covering 39 kilometres between the two towns, comes as a big relief for the divided Kashmiri families.

The bus service between Poonch and Rawalkot in PoK was on Tuesday flagged off by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, 58 years after it was snapped after the partition.

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Carrying 30 passengers, the second 'Karavan-e-Aman' was flagged off amidst tight security in the presence of Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and PDP leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed.

The much-awaited bus service, covering 39 kilometres between the two towns, comes as a big relief for the divided Kashmiri families.

"This is bound to strengthen the relationship between the two countries," Gandhi said after flagging off the bus.

Earlier, she distributed roses and souvenirs to the passengers for the inaugural run of the bus service.