Deserted Dal Lake due to the attack in Pahalgam

Mubashir Hassan

The deadly attack on tourists in Pahalgam in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir has left the once buzzing Boulevard Road on the popular Dal Lake in Srinagar almost deserted, with sporadic tourists walking its footpath and riding in Shikaras. The attack has left some scared, while those who arrived a day after the attack feel confident of travelling across Kashmir, except the bruised Pahalgam. The departure of the distressed visitors and cancellation of thousands of bookings in the last three days have left tour operators and Shikara owners worried about the industry and their livelihood. Shikara and Houseboat owners in the Dal Lake, who derive their livelihood primarily from tourism, said the hotels, houseboats and shikaras in Dal Lake were full. "Two days after the attack, they are empty. This attack has dealt a blow to our livelihood," Ghulam Mohammad, an elderly Shikara owner, told. He said that two days ago he had no time from work, but now he was sitting idle on the Dal bank.