Sinha gives job letter to Pahalgam victim's widow

50 tourist destinations were closed in J&K following the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22

- Mir Ehsan

SRINAGAR: After receiving security clearance from intelligence and law enforcement agencies, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has decided to reopen several tourist destinations across the Union Territory on June 17, which were shut down following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives.

Soon after the attack, the government had closed access to nearly 50 offbeat tourist locations, particularly in Kashmir, citing security concerns. Now, with improved assessments and coordination between divisional commissioners and police officials, eight destinations in Kashmir and several in Jammu have been reopened to tourists, officials said.

Jammu & Kashmir Lt governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday said that eight tourist destinations Betaab Valley, local parks in the Pahalgam, Verinag garden, Kokernag garden, and Achabal Garden in Anantnag district, Badamwari park, Duck park and Taqdeer Park in Srinagar will now be open to visitors. In Jammu, tourist spots like Sarthal, Baggar, Devi Pindi, Sehar Baba Waterfall, sulha park, Gul danda, Jai Valley and Panchari, have also been declared safe for tourism.

"Other destinations will also be reopened in a phased manner," Sinha said, adding that all these 16 tourist places will be reopened on June 17.