"Caused dent in tourism": Uttarakhand official on Pahalgam terror attack

New Delhi [India], April 25 : The Joint Director of Uttarakhand's Information Department, Dr Nitin Upadhyaya, on Thursday highlighted that the Pahalgam terror attack left tourists traumatised, hurting local livelihoods.
A team of tourists from Uttarakhand, including Upadhyaya, had a harrowing experience in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, after a terror attack shook the region. The team was staying at a hotel amidst the forests where the incident took place.
"The locals say that their livelihood depends on tourism, which was hit due to Covid-19 and boosted in the last 2-2.5 years... The people there were very cooperative and humble... This incident has caused a dent in the tourism of the place for years, possibly...," said the Joint Director of Uttarakhand Information Department.
He had been visiting various places in Pahalgam since April 19 and witnessed the happiness of locals until April 22. However, the terror attack has dealt a significant blow to the tourism industry, which had seen a boost in the last 2-2.5 years after being hit by the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We went from place to place as we were there since 19th April and we saw happiness on their faces up until 22nd April," he said.
The tourists were scared and stayed awake all night, with none daring to venture out. Despite dinner being served, many opted to go hungry or ordered food in their rooms. The fear was palpable, with every person traumatised by the incident.
"... We were staying in the hotel amidst the forests where the incident took place, so we were scared and stayed awake all night... There were around 150 tourists in the hotel. No one thought of going asleep. When dinner was served at the hotel, no one dared to go to the dinner table. Some ordered food in their rooms while some preferred to go hungry. Every person was terrified... The effect is huge," added the Uttarakhand official.
Reflecting on the devastating impact on tourism, he expressed concern for the locals. "They told me 80% of their income depends on tourism. After this attack, tourism has taken a massive hit, especially in places like Pahalgam, where there are no alternative sources of income."
Despite the trauma, he urged visitors to return for their own experiences and to support locals who depend on tourism. He urged people to return, describing Kashmir as "paradise".
He said, "I still believe people should return -- for their own experiences and for the sake of the locals who rely entirely on tourism... I hope -- and I believe -- that eventually, trust will return. Kashmir is truly paradise on Earth, and people will come back. It may take time, but the natural beauty of Kashmir is unmatched."
The official, who was in Pahalgam with his family during the attack, described the ordeal as one of the most terrifying moments of his life. He recalled, "It was perhaps one of those incidents that should never happen in a person's life. But it did, and that incident, that moment, and that situation -- we can only describe it as terrifying. Just imagining it brings fear to the mind."
The family arrived in Kashmir on April 19 for a planned five-day trip. On April 22, they decided to check into their hotel before heading out for sightseeing, a decision that, in hindsight, kept them safe from immediate danger as events unfolded nearby.
While on their way to Betaab Valley, the official received a call from a friend who informed him of a terrorist attack in the nearby village. "We still didn't feel any serious danger... But as we reached the Betaab Valley taxi stand, a slight panic was in the air... Staff said there had been a big security alert due to a terrorist attack nearby."
As they returned to the hotel, tension increased. "By the time we reached the market, everything was shut. There were taxi lines stretching for 45 kilometres... the army and police had set up barricades. Our driver found another route and got us back to the hotel."
At the hotel, the situation was equally tense. "There were around 45 army helicopters flying overhead... no one wanted to speak openly. Fear was in the air. That night, we didn't sleep at all." The official further shared how a waiter warned them not to open their door if someone knocked at night, heightening their fear.
"The hotel is deep inside a cedar forest, far from the market. Our room and the kids' room were separate. My wife was very scared. She insisted we call the kids to our room. We were all scared, but trying to reassure each other."
The next morning, army personnel confirmed the tragic toll. "They said 25-26 people had died in the attack." With their flight scheduled for later in the day, the official was concerned whether the roads would reopen. "The roads were closed until 8 AM, and I couldn't help but worry."
They were able to leave for Srinagar around 8:30 AM. The journey was tense, with many people trying to flee the area. "When we reached the airport, it was crowded with people trying to leave. Everyone seemed to be leaving."
Meanwhir. a meeting was convened by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Conference Centre, that brought together leaders from across the political spectrum to deliberate on the path forward in the wake of the April 22 terror attack that shook the region.
The attack, which targeted tourists in the Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam, claimed the lives of 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali citizen, leaving several others injured. It is considered one of the deadliest terror attacks in the region since the 2019 Pulwama bombing, in which 40 CRPF personnel were killed, and among the most severe since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019.
Following an all-party meeting, CM Omar Abdullah announced the adoption of a unified resolution by all parties, condemning the attack and affirming a shared commitment to peace and justice.
CM Omar Abdullah stated, "We, the participants of the All Party meeting of Jammu and Kashmir, deeply shocked and anguished by the recent barbaric attack in Pahalgam on 22nd April 2025 on innocent civilians, hereby adopt this resolution in a spirit of collective solidarity and resolve. We unequivocally condemn in the strongest possible terms the heinous, inhumane attack in Pahalgam that targeted and killed innocent civilians."