Verinag(Anantnag )June 17: Parks across Jammu and Kashmir, including popular tourist spots in Pahalgam, reopened on Tuesday following their closure in the wake of the April 22 terror attack.
The reopening drew enthusiastic crowds of tourists and locals, eager to return to the recreational spaces.
The April 22 attack at Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists, prompting authorities to shut several tourist sites as a precautionary measure.
On Saturday, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced a phased reopening of 16 parks—eight in Jammu region and eight in Kashmir Valley. In the first phase, eight parks in the Valley were opened to the public.
Among the parks opened were, Verinag, a famous Mughal garden and origin of Jhelum, Parks in Pahalgam and Betab Velley (Hajan Valley) saw good number of visitors on day first after reopening.
At Verinag, Congress leader and MLA from Dooru, Ghulam Ahmad Mir, visited the garden and was seen interacting with school children.
Speaking to reporters, he welcomed the reopening and thanked LG Sinha for responding to their request.
“This is a welcome step. We had met LG Sinha just a few days ago, and now the parks are open. We are grateful,” Mir said.
He added that Verinag has three entry gates, of which only one has been reopened. “While it allows for movement, the livelihoods of locals depend on access through the other two gates. I request that those be reopened gradually after proper review.”
Meanwhile, tourists expressed joy at being able to visit the reopened sites. Anibia, a visitor from Uttarakhand, said she and her family had arrived in Kashmir on Tuesday and felt lucky to visit Betab Valley, which had just reopened.
“We found everything normal here. What social media shows is very different from the reality. Kashmir is safe, and I would encourage others to come too,” she said.
Reshma, a tourist from Delhi, dressed in a traditional Kashmiri pheran, said, “Kashmir, and especially Pahalgam, is a magical place. This is the perfect season to visit, especially for families during school vacations,” she said. “We will tell everyone back in Delhi about the beauty and hospitality of Kashmir. We even wore pherans and visited Betab Valley just to take photos in the traditional dress.”
Locals, too, welcomed the return of tourists. Zahoor Ahmad, a local at a Pahalgam taxi stand, greeted tourists with shawls.
“This is the first day tourists are returning after the April 22 attack. We are welcoming them in the best way we can,” he said. “With Betab Valley open again, we urge more people to come and enjoy the beauty of Pahalgam.”
