Top News

Pahalgam. Tourists have started returning to Pahalgam, the main tourist destination of Kashmir, but the numbers still remain low. A major reason for this is the still closed Baisaran grassland, where terrorists killed 25 tourists and a local man last year. A total of 26 people were killed in the attack on April 22 in Baisaran, due to which tensions between India and Pakistan reached their peak.

The situation has now become normal, but Baisaran, known as ‘Mini Switzerland’, is still closed, due to which the confidence of tourists has not been completely restored. Many tourist places that were closed after the attack have been reopened, but Baisaran remains closed. The government has built a memorial at the entrance, where the names of the 26 people killed in the attack are recorded.

Tourists take photographs there, read the names and then return after wandering along the banks of the Lidder River. Ghulam Nabi Lone, president of the Pahalgam Taxi Drivers Association, said, “Tourists are coming but not staying the night. This is affecting the taxi, horse riding and hotel business.” According to officials, around four lakh tourists came to Pahalgam last year, which is much less than the normal 12-15 lakh.

Local businessmen blame the closure of Baisaran and surrounding places for this decline. People associated with local tourism say that Baisaran has never been closed before and there has been a demand for its opening soon for a long time. He also expressed concern over the closure of Chandanwadi and said that due to closure of major places, tourists return early instead of staying.

At present, only Betab Valley outside the main Pahalgam is open for tourists. Around 5000 pony vendors and hoteliers here have been most affected by this situation. Keeping security in mind, the administration has started issuing QR codes to taxi drivers, pony drivers and hotel staff.

So far, around 7000 people have been given this code after verification, and the target is to include 25,000 people. This is the first place in the country where QR based system is being implemented for identification. Ponywala Association President Abdul Waheed Wani said that security arrangements have improved, but tourism is suffering huge losses due to the closure of Baisaran.

Tourists are also demanding opening of Baisaran. A tourist from Mumbai said, “I have come here to visit, there is no fear, but it is disappointing to see Baisaran closed.” The road leading to Baisaran has been blocked by security forces and no one is being allowed to go beyond a limit.

Read this also:

Big claim in UN report: India’s GDP is expected to grow at 6.4% this year, know the main reasons