J&K LG announces reopening of 16 of 48 tourists destinations closed after Pahalgam attack

Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha on Saturday announced that 16 tourist destinations across the Union Territory have been thrown open for tourists that were closed following the attack in Pahalgam that killed 25 tourists and one local.

Following the attack on April 22, the administration had closed 48 tourist destinations mostly in the upper reaches of mountains, for the security review. The LG said that other destinations would be reopened in phased manner.

We have got reports from all the districts of J&K and it was decided that some spots would be thrown open for tourists in Kashmir and Jammu Divisions, which were temporarily closed as precautionary measures," said Sinha. Eight destinations inclduing Betab valley and Parks in Pahalgam Market, Verinag Garden, Kokernag Garden, Achabal Garden, Badamwari Park, Duck Park, Taqdeer Park in Srinagar have been opened in Kashmir valley. In Jammu divison, Sarthal and Dhaggar in Kathua, Devi Pindi, Siyad Baba and Sula Park in Reasi, Guldanda and Jai valley in Doda and Pancheri in Udhampur have been thrown open. The destinations would be better remain open from June 17.




"People are excited after the start of Vande Bharat train and tickets are booked for next 10 to 12 days. Tourists arrivals are slowly increasing. Parliamentary committee meetings and other government functions would be held in Srinagar. This is aimed to restore trust on ground," said Sinha, who met the delegation of legislators, DDC Chairpersons and Vice Chairpersons, tour and travel operators, Ponywala association & hoteliers' associations at Pahalgam. "I've assured the delegation that restrictions on other tourist spots will be lifted after thorough security assessment," he said.

The LG also met the family of Syed Adil Hussain at Anantnag, who was killed on April 22 and handed over appointment letter to his wife Gulnaz Akhter on compassionate ground.

The ruling National Conference legislator Tanvir Sadiq in a sarcastic reference to LG's handing over of appointment letter to Akhter said that the job order was already prepared by the Fisheries Department which is under the elected government led by the minister Javed Dar. "This reflects the maturity and responsibility shown by the elected government, we did not allow egos to come in the way, but stood by our commitment to Adil’s family in their moment of grief," said Sadiq.

"Just as earlier, the elected government had prepared similar job orders for NoKs in Poonch, which were later distributed by the Home Minister after the CM had personally visited and personally committed these jobs to the families immediately after the shelling," said Sadiq adding, "In moments of pain, politics must make way for compassion, and governance must honour its word."