Pahalgam tourists land in Chennai, live to tell tale of horror

THE Tamil Nadu tourists stuck in J&K after the horrific terror attack in Pahalgam recalled the kindness of local residents in Kashmir in escorting them to safety, after the tourist groups started arriving in batches at Chennai airport in the wee hours of Thursday.

- GAUTHAM SELVARAJAN @ Chennai

Members from a group of 48 people who arrived here at 8.30 am on Thursday told TNIE that they were even confident enough to finish their last leg of the trip—a round of sightseeing in Srinagar on Wednesday, a day after the attacks, as per their original schedule—before returning home.

Nitish of Srirangam, a part of the group, said the local residents there took utmost care in ensuring the group's safety. "They treated us (the tourists) as if we were family and made it their priority to take us to hotels. They did not see us as Hindus or Muslims, rather as friends," he said.

Before them, another group had arrived at 1.30 am. They (19 tourists) were taken to their hometowns through travel arrangements made by the state government, officials said.