Srinagar, Aug 21 (IANS) The Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service resumed Thursday after the authorities cancelled its previous fortnightly run because of the highly surcharged atmosphere in the Valley, with 160 passengers travelling either way on the two buses that were deployed on the route.”One hundred and sixty passengers travelled today between Srinagar and Muzaffarabad and back,” an official said.

“Of these, 68 were passengers returning to Muzaffarabad after coming here to meet members of their divided families. In addition, 32 locals went to Muzaffarabad to meet their relatives there.

“From the Pakistani side of the Line of Control (LoC), 42 people came here to meet their relatives while 18 locals who had gone there earlier returned to their homes,” the official added.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had flagged off the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad bus service here April 7, 2005, by as part of the confidence-building measures between the two countries and aimed at bringing relief to thousands of divided families living on either side of the LoC that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan.