By 
Kargil, April 22:
Serious concerns have emerged over the non-refund of cancelled AN-32 air tickets operating between Kargil and Srinagar, with passengers alleging prolonged delays and violation of aviation refund norms.
Several affected passengers have complained that despite cancellations due to bad weather, refunds have not been processed for weeks—and in some cases, even years. The issue has now raised questions over accountability among the agencies involved, including liaison offices and banking channels.
In one such case, tickets were booked for two passengers from Kargil to Srinagar and one passenger from Srinagar to Kargil. However, the flight did not operate due to adverse weather conditions, and the booking was cancelled on March 25. Despite repeated follow-ups, the refund has not been received till date.
The aggrieved passenger stated that liaison officers at both Kargil and Srinagar had confirmed that refund details were forwarded to ICICI Bank Leh for processing. However, the bank allegedly failed to credit the amount. Even after assurances from bank officials that the issue would be resolved by the end of March, no refund has been issued so far.
In a significant revelation, officials designated for AN-32 operations have themselves admitted that since the commencement of AN-32 flights this year, not a single refund has been processed in favour of passengers, raising serious concerns about systemic lapses.
Adding to the grievance, the complainant also highlighted that a similar case from nearly two years ago, involving cancellation of tickets for four passengers, still remains unresolved, indicating a pattern of negligence.
Passengers argue that such delays amount to a clear violation of refund norms laid down by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), which mandate timely refunds in cases of flight cancellations.
The issue has sparked frustration among travelers who depend on AN-32 services, especially in remote regions like Kargil where connectivity is limited and weather disruptions are common.
Affected passengers have now urged the concerned authorities to immediately intervene, process pending refunds, and fix accountability to ensure such lapses are not repeated in the future.
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