J&K L-G announces phased re-opening of tourist destinations closed after Pahalgam attack
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Saturday (June 14, 2025) announced a phased reopening of 48 destinations closed in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 civilians dead on April 22, 2025.
'Following a detailed security assessment, we are now in a position to welcome visitors back, gradually and responsibly. The decision to restrict access to several tourist locations was purely precautionary,' Mr. Sinha said.
In the first phase, south Kashmir's key destinations, including Betab Valley, Verinag, Kokernag, and Achabal gardens, will be reopened. Besides, parks around the Pahalgam market area will also be accessible to visitors.
Badamwari Garden, Duck Park, and Taqdeer Park near Hazratbal in J&K's summer capital Srinagar will also reopen. Srinagar, in spite of not being closer to the Line of Control (LoC), saw 16 destinations closed, including Jama Masjid, Badamwari, Rajouri Kadal, Aali Kadal, Faqir Gujri, Astanmarg, upper areas of Dachigam, etc. Forty-eight destinations out of 87 in the Kashmir Valley were closed for tourists after the Pahalgam attack.
Also read: Now, tourism as a weapon against terrorism
Mr. Sinha, who visited Pahalgam on Saturday (June 14, 2025), also appealed to citizens 'to play their part in ensuring the pilgrimage proceeds peacefully'. He added, 'This is your (Amarnath) yatra. It belongs to the people of Kashmir. Its success will uplift our economy and tourism sector.'
He also handed over a government job letter to the widow of Adil Ahmad, a pony rider who also lost his life in the attack. Mr. Sinha described him as a 'martyr' and said the government job to his widow was more than an act of compensation. 'It reflects our commitment to stand by the family. I have personally assured them of continued support and concrete measures so they may live a life of dignity. We will not let the sacrifices of the brave be forgotten,' L-G Sinha said.
However, ruling National Conference (NC) said the job was approved by the elected government.
'I thank LG Sahab for handing over the job order that was already prepared by the Fisheries Dept, a department under the elected government led by Hon Min Javed Dar. This reflects the maturity and responsibility shown by the elected government, we did not allow egos to come in the way, but stood by our commitment to Adil's family in their moment of grief,' NC leader and MLA Zadibal Tanvir Sadiq said.
'Just as earlier, the elected government had prepared similar job orders for NoKs in Poonch, which were later distributed by the Home Minister after the CM had personally visited and personally committed these jobs to the families immediately after the shelling. In moments of pain, politics must make way for compassion, and governance must honour its word,' Mr. Sadiq said.
Meanwhile, in an indirect reference to recent Chief Minister Omar Abdullah's remarks about bureaucracy not supporting him fully, Mr. Sinha said, 'You said, 'L-G Sahab, give us something.' The only thing I can give you is the police personnel. As for roads, water, power, and agriculture — these are with the government. I will have no objection if the government fulfils your demands,' Mr. Sinha said.
Also read: War a distraction, will devastate Punjabis and Kashmiris: Farmers' outfit
He was addressing local farmers in south Kashmir who highlighted the issue of being excluded from the horticultural crop insurance schemes.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
J&K: Security heightened for Amarnath Yatra after Pahalgam terror attack
With lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha performing the 'Pratham Pujan' at the Shri Amarnath cave shrine on Wednesday, the stage is set for the annual 38-day pilgrimage to south Kashmir Himalayas, beginning July 3 and concluding on August 9. In the aftermath of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 tourist lives and left scores injured, security arrangements for this year's pilgrimage will be the most stringent yet. A senior home department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that nearly 3.6 lakh pilgrims have registered for the yatra so far. 'To ensure their safety, over 581 companies of paramilitary forces—including CRPF, SSB, ITBP, and BSF—will be deployed. This excludes the routine presence of Jammu and Kashmir Police and the army. Each paramilitary company typically comprises 100-110 personnel,' he said. 'Security forces on the ground, including Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs), will be equipped with automatic weapons, surveillance equipment, satellite phones, and bomb disposal squads. Jammers will also be installed to pre-empt potential terror threats. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags will be mandatory for pilgrims and service providers to enable real-time tracking of their movement,' he added. The pilgrims will follow two routes: the traditional 48km track from Pahalgam in Anantnag district and the 14km shorter but steeper Baltal route in Ganderbal district. The first batch of pilgrims will leave Jammu on July 2, escorted under tight security, the official informed. Union home minister Amit Shah, during his May 30 visit to Poonch, had instructed security forces to maintain heightened alertness and vigilance throughout the yatra. Jammu divisional commissioner Ramesh Kumar has directed completion of all ongoing works at Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas—the base camp in Jammu—by June 20. Pilgrims leave from this site every morning for both Pahalgam and Baltal. Kumar, along with inspector general of police Bhim Sen Tuti, reviewed yatra preparations at the site on Friday. Fire drills, fire extinguishers, and CCTV installation—particularly around langar (community kitchen) areas—are being prioritised. The health department has been directed to ensure availability of medicines, ambulances and medical staff at base camps and along the routes. Meanwhile, Kathua district, the gateway to J&K, has established 36 lodgement centres and 6 RFID registration counters to manage the influx of pilgrims arriving by road. NH-44 under watch The CRPF commandos will escort convoys from Jammu to Srinagar. The 250km Jammu-Srinagar NH44 will be sensitised by road opening parties of the army before convoy movement. NH-44 and the Jammu-Srinagar rail track will be under 24x7 surveillance during the 38-day pilgrimage. All roads connected to the pilgrimage route and major highways will be temporarily shut during convoy movements to ensure security. A security audit and mapping of all relevant roads and highways has been recently completed.
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Tourist spots to reopen in phases, says J&K governor
Weeks after nearly 50 tourist destinations in Jammu and Kashmir were closed due to security reasons in view of the April 22 Pahalgam attack, they will now be reopened in a phased manner starting June 17, Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha said on Saturday. He added that the eight destinations will be reopened in the first phase including Betaab Valley, parks near Pahalgam market, Verinag, Kokernag, and Achabal gardens in Anantnag district, and Badamwari Park, Duck Park near Nigeen and Taqdeer Park near Hazratbal in Srinagar district. 'Sarthal and Dhaggar in Kathua, Devipindi, Siyad Baba and Sula Park in Reasi, Guldanda and Jai valley in Doda, and Pancheri in Udhampur -- all in Jammu region -- are also being reopened in the first phase,' Sinha said. 'After April 22, some places were closed due to security reasons. Divisional commissioner and IG Kashmir and Divisional Commissioner and IG Jammu have received security reports from all districts and decided to open some places for tourists,' he said, adding that more tourist sites will be reopened in the second phase after an assessment by the committee comprising the divisional commissioners and IGPs of both regions. 'There is a fresh enthusiasm among people after the launch of Vande Bharat (train). I have been told that all tickets have been booked for the next 10-12 days. The number of tourists is increasing gradually,' said Sinha. 'Endeavours are being made from every side, the Government of India will also be having meetings of the Parliamentary delegations, committees etc. in Srinagar. This will restore the confidence,' he added. 'The government of India's parliamentary delegations, and official meetings of groups and committees are being held in Srinagar which will restore confidence and will also increase tourism influx,' he said urging people to visit in big numbers and assuring security. Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah said earlier this month that the government will reopen 48 tourist destinations, closed after the April 22 Pahalgam attack, in a phased manner. He said at the time that there was a need to review each of these locations.
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Betab Valley, Verinag and Kokernag gardens among tourist spots to reopen in Jammu and Kashmir
Nearly two months after the Pahalgam terror attack, J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha Saturday announced that over a dozen tourist destinations across the Union Territory will be reopened in a phased manner from June 17. Over 50 tourist destinations in J&K were closed for tourists on April 29, days after 26 people were killed in the April 22 Pahalgam attack, pending a security review. The L-G, who is in Pahalgam to review the security situation ahead of the Amarnath Yatra beginning July 3, said: 'I've ordered reopening of some of the tourist spots in Kashmir and Jammu divisions, which were temporarily closed as precautionary measures.' Among the destinations to be reopened on June 17 are Betab Valley, parks in Pahalgam Market, Verinag Garden, Kokernag Garden and Achabal Garden, he said. Other destinations to be reopened in phased manner are Badamwari Park, Duck Park, Taqdeer Park in Srinagar, Sarthal, Dhaggar in Kathua, Devi Pindi, Siyad Baba, Sula Park in Reasi, Guldanda and Jai Valley in Doda and Pancheri in Udhampur. On the Amarnath Yatra arrangements, L-G Sinha said, 'Over the last few years, we have increased many facilities for the yatris. The path to the cave is wider and we have also enhanced connectivity to the area. Capacity and quality of living arrangements for the yatris have also been improved.' The L-G also reviewed the progress of the Disaster Management Centre and Yatri Niwas at Nunwan Base Camp, Pahalgam. Earlier in the day, Sinha visited the residence of Syed Adil Hussain at Anantnag, the ponywala killed in the Pahalgam attack, and handed over an appointment letter to his wife Gulnaz Akhter on compassionate grounds. Soon after, the ruling National Conference announced that the appointment letter was already prepared by the Fisheries Department. In a post on X, NC chief spokesperson Tanvir Sadiq said, 'In moments of pain, politics must make way for compassion, and governance must honour its word.' 'We thank LG Sahab for handing over the job order that was already prepared by the Fisheries Department, a department under the elected government led by Minister Javed Dar,' Sadiq said. 'This reflects the maturity and responsibility shown by the elected government, we did not allow egos to come in the way, but stood by our commitment to Adil's family in their moment of grief,' he said. Sadiq highlighted that the state government had earlier given similar appointment letters to the kin of those killed in Pakistan shelling in Poonch. 'The job orders were later distributed by the home minister after the CM had personally visited and personally committed these jobs to the (affected) families immediately after the shelling,' Sadiq, who is also an MLA from Zadibal constituency, said.
