Airlines have been directed to maintain regular fare levels, ensuring that no passenger is burdened during this sensitive time, an official release said on Wednesday.

Defence officials confirmed that the 26-year-old officer, who was posted in Kochi, had travelled to Kashmir for a short vacation after his marriage on April 16. His wedding reception was held on April 19.

The department said that heat wave is expected to hit Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan from April 24 to 28, while Central India is predicted to see a 2-3 degree Celsius rise in maximum temperature over the next few days with little significant change thereafter.