Lauren, an American tourist was unfazed by panicky atmosphere in Kashmir. She had plans to explore beautiful locales of Valley but her dream visit had to be cut short when during her visit to Dal Lake, she was asked to cut short her stay.
Panicked, she went back to hotel where she was putting upand decided to cut short her stay in Kashmir. “I was not aware about anyadvisory until police personnel informed me. Though, it was a dream visit forme but situation I feel is not conducive so better to leave,” she said whileboarding a cab near Tourist Reception Centre at Dalgate.
Lauren was not the lone traveler; there were tourists alongwith families who were fuming due to fact that their holiday had to becurtailed.
The problem now is not only tourists have to curtail theirvisit period, but for returning home tourists are made to pay exorbitantairfares.
“Till yesterday airfare from Srinagar to Delhi was Rs 4000which has now gone upto Rs 18000 per passenger, which is unjustified and openloot as we are being evacuated due to government advisory,” said anothertourist, Rajesh Suroop who said that if he would travel by air he would have toshell Rs 90,000 for five family members.
Chairman, Jammu and Kashmir Hoteliers Club, Mushtaq AhmadChaya said that the tourists have started fleeing Kashmir after governmentorder asking yatris and tourists to cut short their visit.
“There are more than 7 lakh people directly or indirectlyaffiliated with the tourism sector. Therefore we would like to urge thegovernment to take such steps which would ensure that our sector doesn’t sufferheavy losses,” he said.
According to official handout of AAI, total 6126 passengersreported at Srinagar International Airport today for travelling back out ofValley.
“Out of this total 5829 passengers were traveled by 32scheduled airlines. Remaining 387 Passengers were accommodated in 04 no of IAFAircraft and flown to various destinations like Jammu, Pathankote, Delhi etc.All the possible supports has been extended at the airport by ensuring safety and security of the passengers. Allpassengers were flown out of valley in a planned and systematic manner. Theentire operation was conducted smoothly with close coordination with IAF,J&K Police, CRPF, BSF, State Authorities all airlines and AAIpersonnel’s,” reads the official handout.
Besides tourism sector, the construction and developmentalsector which provides employment to thousands of people too has been hit by thegovernment order.