Nearly 50 tourist spots in Kashmir shut amid security concerns
Nearly 50 public parks and tourist destinations across Jammu and Kashmir have reportedly been shut as a precautionary measure in the wake of the terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists.
Unnamed officials told news agency PTI that gates have been closed at 48 of 87 public parks and gardens in Kashmir because tourists perceive them as a threat.
The closed spots include both well-known and emerging tourist spots such as Dooshpathri, Kokernag, Duksum, Sinthan Top, Acchabal, Bangus Valley, Margan Top, and Tosamaidan.
Though not announced through a formal government order, the closures of these tourist spots have been enforced on the ground, with gates locked and access blocked to several popular destinations.
In the case of several Mughal Gardens in south Kashmir, the doors to these spots have been locked.
With tourism being a key economic pillar in Kashmir, the shutdown is a significant blow, both symbolically and financially. However, officials insist that the safety of locals and visitors remains the top priority.
Tensions between India and Pakistan, nuclear-armed neighbours have increased since the attack, as the Pakistan Army continued its unprovoked firing across the Line of Control (LoC) on the night of April 28–29, targeting areas opposite the Kupwara and Baramulla districts, as well as the Akhnoor sector, marking the fifth consecutive day of such firing.