J-K: Militant attacks, flash floods leave Bhaderwah’s popular tourist spots deserted; locals urge govt action
(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
Bhaderwah, a remote hill town in Jammu and Kashmir, is grappling with a sharp drop in visitors after a series of militant attacks and severe weather. Cloudbursts and flash floods have left popular trekking routes and scenic spots eerily quiet.
Many locals depend on tourism for their income. “I’ve worked in this industry for 8‑10 years and never seen such silence,” said Yasir, a resident who has watched his job evaporate. “After the Pahalgam incident, we had no tourists for two‑and‑a‑half months. Even when summer came, only 30 % of our usual visitors returned. The floods in Kishtwar took us further down.”
Yasir urged the state’s Member of Legislative Assembly to bring the issue to the Assembly and to plan festivals that could draw crowds back. “We need government action, not jobs, but tourism must be revived,” he added.
Another local, who enjoys trekking in Guldanda, described the area’s current emptiness. “Millions of tourists used to come,” he said. “Now the place is deserted, and the young people here are without work. Please fix the tourism sector quickly.”
The delay in finishing the Bhaderwah gondola project has also drawn criticism. BJP leader Daleep Singh Parihar slammed the authorities for overlooking the town in the last three years. “Hoteliers built hotels on loans, and now the lack of tourists is hurting them,” he said. “The government under CM Omar Abdullah has ignored Bhaderwah. No one from any major party has stepped up. BJP workers delivered supplies and listened to people’s pleas.”
With tourism a key lifeline for Bhaderwah’s economy, residents demand urgent government support, completed infrastructure, and fresh initiatives to bring visitors back to the scenic hills of Jammu and Kashmir.
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