Pahalgam massacre: Tourism in J-K returns to pre-attack levels, says Shekhawat
New Delhi (PTI): The Pahalgam terror attack had dealt a big blow to tourism in Jammu and Kashmir, but the sector has recovered reaching the level that existed before the brutal assault on April 22 last year, Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said on Wednesday.
Interacting with reporters on the sidelines of an event here, he also said in the wake of the terror strike, a "new India" sent a firm message with Operation Sindoor, punishing perpetrators and destroying terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
"One year ago, the kind of brutal terrorist attack that took place, the way tourists were picked up and killed on basis of their religious identity...and surely it had enraged the nation against terrorists," Shekhawat said.
"However, whenever we talk of Pahalgam, we also talk of Operation Sindoor, and how the perpetrators were punished and terror infrastructure was destroyed," he said.
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The prime minister had sent a message that every activity inimical to India, whether emanating from Indian soil or any other soil outside the country, will not be tolerated, and that "this is new India, it will strike them hard", the minister said, referring to May 7 military action against terrorists and terror infrastructure in Pakistan.
Tourism in J&K and Ladakh, which was growing profoundly after abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, suffered a big blow as a result of the terror attack on April 22 last year, he said.
But, J&K tourism department and the Ministry of Tourism worked together after that to bring the sector back on track, the minister asserted. "I can happily say this...various ministries held their meetings in Pahalgam, my ministry also held several meetings there to rebuild confidence among the people, and revive tourism."
In June 2025, Shekhawat had visited the Pahalgam attack site and said the strength of the people and the "quiet resolve" to not let fear define them represent the "real soul of Kashmir".
A year on, the famed Baisaran meadows of Pahalgam, the site of the horrific act in Anantnag district, is also seeking to step out of the shadow of the terror attack.
Shekhawat said, "Overall, from the point of view of Kashmir, the tourism situation has nearly reached the level that was before the Pahalgam attack."
In Pahalgam, some tourist spots were closed at that time, now they are being opened again. "Baisaran Valley, where the incident took place, there also tourism activities will resume...we are working on it," he added.
In retaliation to the attack, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 and decimated multiple terror infrastructures in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Pakistan later also launched offensives against India. The military conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours, lasting nearly 88 hours, halted after they reached an understanding on the evening of May 10.
Top Indian military officers in the past year have asserted multiple times that Operation Sindoor "still continues", and the country's military preparedness must remain at a "very high" level, round-the-clock and throughout the year.
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3 killed, 9 injured in separate road accidents in Jharkhand
Bokaro/Hazaribag (PTI): Three persons were killed and nine injured in separate road accidents in Jharkhand's Bokaro and Hazaribag districts on Wednesday evening, police said.
Two persons died on the spot in a head-on collision between a truck and a tanker on NH-23 linking Bokaro to Ramgarh at Chargi valley area under Peterwar Police Station limits of Bokaro district.
Peterwar Police Station Officer-in-Charge, Raju Munda, told PTI that apart from two persons who died on the spot, six persons sustained serious injuries in the mishap and have been rushed to a government hospital in Peterwar.
"In the head-on collision between a truck and a tanker on the NH-23 stretch, the driver of the truck was trapped inside the mangled front portion of the truck, causing his death at the site," said Munda.
The police officer said that an auto rickshaw carrying passengers from Peterwar to Gola was trying to overtake the truck, was also impacted in the mishap, causing the death of the auto rickshaw driver, identified as Ravindra Karmali, on the spot.
"Five passengers of the autorickshaw sustained serious injuries and have been admitted to the Community Health Centre in Peterwar," the police officer added.
In Hazaribag, a car plunged into a 30 feet deep gorge in the Danua Valley under Chouparan Police Station area, leading to the death of one person while three others sustained injuries.
Chouparan Police Station Officer-in-Charge, Saroj Singh, told PTI that the injured have been admitted to the Community Health Centre in Chouparan.
"Of the three injured, two are in a critical condition," the police officer said.
The police officer said that the car was travelling from Barhi towards Gaya (in Bihar) and while negotiating the slope and curve in the Danua Valley, the driver lost control, leading to the mishap.
"The deceased and injured are yet to be identified. We are trying to contact the owner of the vehicle based on the registration number of the vehicle," the police officer added.
