Srinagar/New Delhi, Apr 23 (KNO): A day after the terror attack in Pahalgam, panic has gripped the tourism sector in Jammu and Kashmir with Delhi-based travel agencies reporting up to 80% booking cancellations.
Simultaneously, hundreds of non-local tourists were seen fleeing the Valley via the historic Mughal Road on Wednesday after the main Jammu-Srinagar National Highway remained blocked due to the recent cloudburst and landslides, triggered by the heavy rainfall.
A Delhi-based travel agency told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) that at least 25 clients had requested cancellations within a single day. “Most of them were scheduled to travel next month but after the attack, they are backing out. Safety is their biggest concern,” he said.
“We had Kashmir-centric packages booked for May and June, and all of them are now cancelled or on hold," he added.
Similarly, a Himachal Pradesh-based travel company reported that nearly 2,000 Kashmir tour bookings have been cancelled since the terror attack, with more cancellations pouring in by the hour.
A Kashmir specific operator from the company said the sudden wave of fear has triggered an unprecedented withdrawal of travel plans.
The terror attack has not only dented confidence among prospective tourists but also triggered an immediate exodus.
This correspondent met several tourists on the Mughal Road, an alternative but less-travelled route that connects Kashmir with the Pir Panjal region. With the highway shut, this road became the escape path for many trying to leave the Valley in haste.
“We came here for peace, not to risk our lives,” said Rahul Verma, a tourist from Gujarat. “The moment we heard the news, we packed and left. We didn’t even wait for our return date.”
Anita Sharma, a teacher from Haryana who was traveling with her family, said, “It’s heartbreaking because Kashmir is incredibly beautiful, but right now, safety comes first. We were supposed to stay till the weekend, but we’re leaving today.”
Mohammed Zaid, a cab driver from Delhi ferrying tourists along the Mughal Road, said, “My passengers insisted we leave immediately. They didn’t want to spend another night in Srinagar.”
Another tourist, Praveen Nair from Kerala, who had planned a week-long trekking tour, said, “It is unfortunate. We felt safe initially, but this incident changed everything. Maybe, some other time when things are calm again.”
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah termed the exodus of tourists from the Valley in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack as ‘heart-breaking’.
“It’s heartbreaking to see the exodus of our guests from the valley after yesterday’s tragic terror attack in Pahalgam but at the same time we totally understand why people would want to leave. While DGCA & the Ministry of Civil Aviation are working to organise extra flights, NH-44 between Srinagar & Jammu has been reconnected for traffic in a single direction. I’ve directed the administration to facilitate traffic between Srinagar & Jammu allowing tourist vehicles to leave. This will have to be done in a controlled & organised way because the road is still unstable in places and we are also working hard to clear all the stranded vehicles. We will not be able to permit completely free movement of vehicles at the moment & we hope that everyone will cooperate with us,” he wrote in a post on X—(KNO)