A deserted view of the main market area in the picturesque pahalgama in the south of Kashmiro after the militant attack | Photo credit: Stringer
After Pahalgam’s terrorist attack, tourists began out of the valley on Wednesday, cutting their short trips. A great hurry was witnessed at the Srinagar International Airport while desperate tourists rushed out of Kashmir.
On Thursday afternoon, terrorists hit Baisaran Meadows in Pahalgam, leaving 27 dead tourists and wounding many. The horrible attack has sent tourists to the way of panic, and many of them immediately departed towards Srinagar.
A tourist official in Pahalgam said they have evacuated tourists without going into the details.
In the first quarter of 2025, the Valley registered a strong tourist influx with 5.25 Lakh tourists who arrived in the region. Currently, the tourist season in the valley is in its peak with more than 2 Lakh tourists who visit the scenic region.
“Yesterday we arrived in Pahalgam after visiting Gulmarg and we were a few minutes from Baisaran when the attack occurred. Now we are in our hotel and we want to return to Srinagar,” said a group of tourists. They said they wanted to leave as soon as possible.
Bushara Khan, a Chhattisgarh tourist, said he was in the same place one day before the place of attack. “We are trapped in a hotel in Pahalgam and we wanted to go to Srinagar,” he said.
Adding to problems
The closure of the Jammu – Srinagar National Highway last week, after land landslides caused by a cloud of clouds, left tourists with few options to leave the valley.
With the air rates that rise, many are opting for the historic Mogol road, which connects Shopian in Kashmir with Rajouri in the Jammu division. “We couldn’t pay the air ticket, so we have made this route to get to Jammu,” said Mahesh Sharma, a tourist from Delhi.
Meanwhile, Air India and Indigo operated on Wednesday four additional flights from Srinagar to Delhi and Mumbai. Indigo has also decided to give an exemption on reprogramming and cancellation. “In the light of the current situation in Srinagar, we have extended Waates in rescue/ cancellation.
Posted on April 23, 2025
