Pahalgam’s Warm Welcome: Tourists Return After Terrifying Attack

On April 22, a tragic incident occurred in Pahalgam when 26 tourists were killed by terrorists. After this, the town was closed until Thursday, but now visitors are back. Many tourists arrived on Saturday, taking photos and enjoying the beautiful views by the Lidder River, which is a popular spot for selfies.

Hotels and Restaurants Offer Discounts

To help bring tourists back and make them feel welcome, many hotels and restaurants are offering special deals. Some places are giving a free meal with every order. Local businesses are doing their best to rebuild trust after the sad event.

Tourists Share Their Experiences

Joydeep Ghosh Dastidar, a visitor from Kolkata, said that he found everything was normal when he arrived on Friday. Although many shops were closed, the locals and security personnel were very friendly. He mentioned that they were able to visit most places, except for Baisaran meadow, which is currently closed to visitors.

Another visitor, Mrityunjay Pande from Bihar, initially thought about canceling his trip but decided to go after learning there were no restrictions on visiting Pahalgam. He said, “We couldn’t resist coming on Saturday morning.”

A family from Kolkata, who had been in Pahalgam before the attack, returned after visiting other places like Sonmarg and Gulmarg. Mohammad Safiq, a businessman from Kolkata, commented, “People here are very helpful. We don’t feel scared; it was an unfortunate tragedy, but we can’t stop visiting such beautiful places.”

Security Remains High as Some Businesses Stay Closed

While more tourists are returning, a popular spot that usually sees thousands of visitors daily was mostly empty. The streets had more security personnel and local residents than tourists. Many shops, except those selling essentials, remained closed five days after the attack.