Srinagar: Parks at several tourist locations in Jammu and Kashmir have started to reopen after nearly two months, since the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that claimed the lives of 22 people, mostly tourists from across the country.
Strong security presence was noticed around these parks that were visited by tourists during the day. The local population – dependent to a large extent on tourism – has heaved a sigh of relief and made special arrangements to welcome visitors.
At Verinag in South Kashmir’s Anantnag (the same district where Pahalgam is located) school children welcomed tourists and this gesture didn’t go unnoticed. Several visitors said that they were overwhelmed by this welcome.
On Saturday, Manoj Sinha, the lieutenant governor of Jammu and Kashmir had ordered the administration to reopen 16 parks, eight each in the Jammu region and Kashmir valley. The tourist spots are to be opened in a phased manner, Sinha said.
Among the locations reopened in the Kashmir Valley on Tuesday are the Betaab Valley in Pahalgam, the parks near the Pahalgam market, Verinag, Kokernag and Achabal gardens in Anantnag district, Badamwari Park, Duck Park near Nigeen, and Taqdeer Park near Hazratbal in Srinagar.
The eight destinations in the Jammu region include Sarthal and Dhaggar in Kathua, Devipindi, Siyad Baba and Sula Park in Reasi, Guldanda and Jai Valley in Doda, and Pancheri in Udhampur.
Tourist police volunteers have been deployed at all locations to assist visitors. Officials said that the presence of security personnel will provide much needed confidence to the tourists.
“The economy of Kashmir will collapse if tourism stops. Pakistan wants that to happen. Everyone in Kashmir realises that and we are against terrorism. We want to tell people from the rest of the country that the incident at Baisaran Meadows in Pahalgam was an isolated incident orchestrated by Pakistan. Tourists are safe in Kashmir,” a hotel owner in Anantnag said.
