Tourists pay homage to Pahalgam terror attack victims

A large number of tourists from different parts of India have arrived in Pahalgam to pay homage to all the victims of terror mercilessly killed by Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists on April 22 in the Baisaran valley of the picturesque hill resort. 

Tourists are expected to assemble in front of a memorial erected in Pahalgam to send a stern message to the perpetrators behind the horrific attack in which 25 tourists and a local ponywallah lost their lives.

A memorial built of black marble, bearing the names of the 26 victims, was constructed along the banks of the Lidder River is standing as a solemn reminder of the terror attack that took place in the meadows of Baisaran valley.

Meanwhile, authorities have beefed up security across Kashmir ahead of the first anniversary, especially across famous tourist hotspots. The administration has deployed additional police and paramilitary personnel in and around Pahalgam, with intensified checking at multiple points and heightened surveillance to ensure a peaceful commemoration.

Senior officials said all necessary arrangements have been put in place for the event, which is expected to be attended by several politicians, civil society members, families of the victims, and local representatives.

After the Pahalgam terror attack, the tourism industry suffered badly across the valley. The popular Government headed by Omar Abdullah took various initiatives and toured several States across India to boost the tourist traffic.

His efforts bore fruit, and the tourist footfall showed signs of improvement. The Union Territory administration also took several confidence-building measures before extending an invitation to the tourists.

Paying homage to the victims of terror, a tourist from Assam N Sarkar, said, “What had to happen has already happened. But if we choose not to visit this place now, that would be wrong. In India, almost every household nurtures a dream…I hail from Assam — we too share that dream of visiting Kashmir”. Tomorrow we will pay our homage at the memorial.

Dropadi Rawat, a middle-aged visitor from Lucknow, said she and her companions had a positive experience, noting that they were not afraid and felt confident travelling as Indians.

She remarked that they were deeply impressed by the overall atmosphere and would gladly visit the place repeatedly.

“We would like to tell other travellers to definitely visit this place and experience it for themselves — it is truly wonderful and reassuring. We felt very comfortable throughout our stay, with strong security arrangements and a very pleasant environment, which made our experience thoroughly enjoyable in every respect,” Rawat said.