One month after terror attack, Pahalgam suffers massive setback
Ishtiyaq Kar
Pahalgam, May 22 (KINS): A month after the terror attack in Pahalgam, the once-bustling tourist resort now wears a deserted look, leaving thousands associated with the tourism sector in despair.
On April 22, terrorists attacked tourists at Baisaran Pahalgam killing 26 visitors and a local. However, a month after, not much has changed with the picturesque place still wearing an almost deserted look.
Despite hotels and shops remaining open, the picturesque town sees only a trickle of visitors. Once alive with tourists, pony rides, and marketplaces, Pahalgam has fallen silent. Stakeholders say the fear triggered by the April 22 incident continues to keep tourists away.
Over 80,000 people are directly and indirectly dependent on tourism in Pahalgam, including 12,000 ponywallahs, 2,000 drivers, hotel staff, photographers, and shopkeepers. Many now find themselves out of work, struggling to meet basic needs.
Mohammad Amin, a Sumo driver, said he took an Rs 10 lakh loan last year to purchase a tourist vehicle and pays Rs 15,000 in monthly installments. “I have made only Rs 10,000 this past month. I have a wife and two children, and I am unable to pay school fees or household expenses,” he told news agency KINS.
Mohammad Shafi, a hotelier, shared a similar plight. “I have 40 rooms in my hotel. Only four are booked. Even with huge discounts, we’re not attracting tourists,” he said. “Earlier, the rooms were priced between Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000, now they are being offered at Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000.”
Before the attack, his hotel employed ten people. “Now, only two remain. I could not afford to pay the others due to lack of business,” Shafi added.
The ponywallahs, a major attraction for tourists, are among the worst hit.
Kaisar Ahmad, a pony rider, has now turned to labour work. “I used to earn Rs 1,500 daily as a pony rider. Now, I work as a labourer in Ashmuqam, (nearby place of Pahalgam) making just Rs 400 a day. I have two sisters and parents to look after,” he said.
The decline comes despite the region recording over 2.5 million tourists in 2024, including 2.2 million visitors to Pahalgam alone. In the first quarter of the year, 600,000 tourists arrived in Kashmir — indicating the sudden and sharp drop following the attack.
Tourism stakeholders are urging the administration to intervene with financial aid and confidence-building measures. “We appeal to the government to support us during this crisis. We need loan relief, employment schemes, and a strong security message to rebuild tourist confidence,” said a representative from the local hotel association. (KINS)
