What was meant to be a long-awaited dream vacation turned into a hurried escape for a group of 29 tourists from Gujarat, who were visiting Kashmir after 12 years of planning. The group, from Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot, and Vadodara, had only just begun exploring the Valley when the tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam forced them to abandon their trip and rush home.
After enjoying a serene evening on Srinagar’s iconic Dal Lake, the group made the difficult decision to cut their stay short, booking the earliest flights out of the Valley. “We had just started to feel safe and relaxed,” said Jignesh Patel, a textile trader from Surat. “Then the news broke and everything changed. We didn’t even see Gulmarg or Sonamarg, not even the Mughal gardens. We arrived yesterday, and today, we are going back.”
Among the group was Suman, an elderly woman who had waited over a decade for this moment. Speaking to Rising Kashmir, she shared her heartbreak: “Many family members had opposed our visit, saying Kashmir was unsafe. After 12 years, we finally agreed. Little did we know our trip would be full of panic, and we would return after just a day in Srinagar.” Her voice trembled, eyes clouded with fear.
The ripple effect of the Pahalgam tragedy spread swiftly across Kashmir’s tourist circuit. Tourists from Maharashtra, West Bengal, Haryana, and Delhi were also seen leaving early, with Srinagar Airport witnessing a surge in departures. “My wife and kids were visibly shaken. We cancelled everything immediately,” said Rameshbhai Mehta, who was coordinating the Gujarati group’s travel.
Some visitors expressed more sorrow than fear. “The people here welcomed us with so much warmth. I am more heartbroken than afraid,” said Bhavna Desai, a retired schoolteacher from Rajkot.
Houseboats on Dal Lake, which had been bustling just a night before, suddenly emptied as guests packed their bags. Hotels in Pahalgam, Gulmarg, and Sonamarg reported dozens of cancellations. Tour operators scrambled to rearrange travel plans, working through the night to reschedule flights and organize early returns.
“I brought my children to show them the beauty of Kashmir. Instead, we’re leaving with anxiety,” said Hetal Shah, a homemaker from Vadodara. As planes lifted off from Srinagar, carrying tourists with cut-short dreams, it was clear that the emotional scars might take longer to heal than the disrupted schedules.
