Pahalgam wears deserted look as forces fortify tourist hotspot

Streets in Pahalgam wore a deserted look on Wednesday, a day a major terrorist attack claimed 26 lives and severely impacted the hospitality sector in the picturesque tourist destination in south Kashmir.

- Mir Ehsan

PAHALGAM:

Security personnel from both the Jammu and Kashmir police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) fortified the popular hill station which, until the attack on Tuesday afternoon, was bustling with tourist activities.

"Everybody has left Pahalgam. Now it's empty. Our economy is gone with one attack," Abdul Rashid, who works at a local guest house in Sallar village, said.

"Yesterday our hotel was full of tourists. Now nobody is here. I don't think tourism will return soon to this destination."

A dejected-looking Umar Majid Mir, who runs the Dana Rasoi restaurant, termed the terrorist attack a big scar on the face of the tourism industry.