Stranded visitors struggle as prices spike after attack
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Krishnanagar/Kolkata: Tourists, who had flocked to Kashmir to admire its beauty, are now impatient to return home, being confined to hotels and in constant fear. Moreover, prices spiked overnight as Srinagar wore a bandh-like look in the aftermath of the terror attack.
Sandip Das, a techie from Sodepur, who is currently in Kashmir on a vacation with his family, wrote about his ordeal on social media: "I am currently in Kashmir. Here is some information on the current situation for those planning to visit. The road from Jammu to Srinagar is closed, with a possibility of reopening on Thursday, though it's uncertain. Mughal Road was open for reaching Srinagar, but it is now closed as well, making it impossible to travel from Jammu to Srinagar. Srinagar feels quite empty and somewhat tense. People are stranded, and those in Jammu cannot come. There is a heavy army presence."
"Today is a shutdown in Kashmir, a Black Day. Although vehicles with tourists are going to Sonmarg and Gulmarg, it's uncertain what might happen on the roads later. The only way to return from Srinagar is by flight, but the prices are extremely high, making it unaffordable for most. For example, there are no flights from Srinagar to Amritsar on the 23rd, 24th, and 25th, and the fare is over Rs 23,000. Srinagar to Kolkata costs over Rs 36,000, and it may have increased," he wrote.
But he said residents of the area were extremely helpful.
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A tourist team from Nadia is also stuck in Srinagar. "We were heading for Pahalgam. It was around 30 km away when we came to know about the attack, and we cancelled the visit," Nadia's Sangbedi Singha Roy spoke over phone from Srinagar.
Travel operator Manash De, who is with a group of tourists in Srinagar, pointed out that in protest against the militant attack, local businessmen had kept their establishments closed in Srinagar on Wednesday. Pointing out that the price of daily commodities had risen and even local transportation fares had escalated sharply, De said, "I bought chicken at Rs 220 a kg on Monday, but it cost me Rs 300 a kg on Tuesday. It, however, came down a bit to Rs 280 on Wednesday. The hike happened after the attack. Fish prices are also high. Even the transport fares have spiralled up."
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