Pahalgam, once a bustling tourist haven, now bears the scars of a devastating terror attack that took place a month back on April 22 in Baisaran Valley, claiming 26 lives, mostly tourists. A month later, the picturesque landscape resembles a ghost town, as armed personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, CRPF, and Indian Army maintain vigilant checkpoints and patrol the eerily quiet streets.
The attack, the deadliest on civilians in India in decades, has crippled Pahalgam’s tourism-driven economy, casting a shadow of fear over the region’s iconic charm. Local businesses are reeling from the impact, with many shopkeepers expressing despair over the sharp decline of tourists. “The business is totally ruined since then. We sit idle outside the shops, waiting for any customer to come in,” lamented Shakeel Ahmad, a local shopkeeper whose handicraft store has seen minimal foot fall.
The hospitality sector has also been hit hard, with reports indicating that 90% of hotels in Pahalgam are either closed or operating at single-digit occupancy. Cancellations have skyrocketed, exceeding 1.3 lakh bookings. Restaurants and tea stalls, once filled with tourists savoring Kashmiri, Punjabi, and Chinese cuisine, now stand deserted. “We used to serve hundreds of customers every day. Now, only one or two tables are booked,” said a local restaurant employee.
The closure of shops selling Pashmina shawls, saffron, and souvenirs has further deepened the economic gloom. Many vendors have relocated to Srinagar in search of alternative livelihoods as the tourism sector continues to struggle. The timing of the attack, just before the peak summer season, has dashed hopes for a prosperous year, with losses estimated in crores.
Despite these challenges, some tourists are still making their way to Pahalgam, albeit with caution. They find themselves limited to visiting the selfie-point and main market, as other popular locations like Baisaran Valley, Betab Valley, and Aaru remain closed. A group of North Indian tourists shared their initial hesitations about traveling to Kashmir but were pleasantly surprised by the hospitality of the locals and the robust security measures in place. “We came here to foil the terrorists’ plans of terrorizing tourists,” one lady tourist told News24 in Pahalgam.
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