Several parks across the tourist destinations of Jammu and Kashmir, which had been closed following the tragic terror attack on April 22, were reopened on Tuesday, bringing delight to both tourists and local residents. The reopening was met with an enthusiastic response as visitors flocked to these scenic locations, eager to enjoy the natural beauty and recreational opportunities once again, news agency PTI reported.
To ensure the safety of visitors, security forces were deployed in large numbers around the parks. Notably, 26 people, most of them tourists, were killed by terrorists in Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam, a popular tourist spot on April 22.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had announced on Saturday the phased reopening of sixteen parks, with eight in the Jammu region and eight in the Kashmir Valley. The first phase saw the reopening of eight parks in Kashmir, including Betaab Valley in Pahalgam, parks near the Pahalgam market, Verinag, Kokernag, Achabal gardens in Anantnag district, Badamwari Park, Duck Park near Nigeen, and Taqdeer Park near Hazratbal in Srinagar.
Simultaneously, eight parks in Jammu were also opened: Sarthal and Dhaggar in Kathua, Devipindi, Siyad Baba, Sula Park in Reasi, Guldanda and Jai Valley in Doda, and Pancheri in Udhampur.
At Verinag, a popular park in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, school children greeted tourists, adding to the festive atmosphere. Visitors expressed their happiness at being able to access these parks again.
"We were already feeling good and happy to have come here, but the reopening of the park and the welcome we got is very nice," PTI quoted a tourist from Patiali, Punjab, as saying.
The reopening has led to a noticeable increase in tourist footfall. According to Hilal Ahmed, owner of Shahi Restaurant in Pahalgam, there was a significant influx of tourists for the first time since the attack, with many vehicles arriving from various parts of the country.
“It was for the first time after April 22 that there was a good rush of tourists in Pahalgam yesterday (Sunday). Many tourist vehicles from different parts of the country came to Pahalgam and moved freely in the tourist destination,” said Hilal Ahmed, owner of Shahi Restaurant in Pahalgam,” Ahmed was quoted by The New Indian Express as saying.
Javed Burza, President of the Pahalgam Hoteliers Association, noted that the number of hotel bookings in Pahalgam jumped from zero to 15-20 percent, with expectations of further growth in the coming days.
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