Rakesh Wazir, president of the Hotel and Restaurant Association in Katra, said on Monday that the deadly Pahgam terror attack has also affected the influx of tourists and booking in the Sangh region of Jammu. He said that at least 35 percent of the booking has been canceled.
“Pahalgam terrorist attack has a significant impact on the entire booking. Booking is continuously canceling. According to our assessment, about 35 to 37 percent of the booking has been canceled so far. The number of people in the journey has reduced from 45,000 to 20,000 to 22,000,” Wazir said.
Appealing to the people that the situation never disturbed places like Katra, he said that people have the impression about the center areas of Jammu and Kashmir that it needs to be replaced.
“I appeal to the people that the situation in Katra, especially, was never disturbed before, nor is it today. The place where it is too far. And if we talk about the center area of Jammu and Kashmir, the whole situation here is fine. People need to change the perception,” Wazir said.
Meanwhile, a person has been arrested for allegedly implementing a registered porter and offering services on the path of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, police officers confirmed.
According to the police station building located in Vaishno Devi, the accused has been identified as Mast Ali, son of Nazir Ahmed and resident of Harot Kot village in Surjan Dhar in Rasi district.
He was presented as “Pithu (Porter)”, in which the police said that the sub-division violated the orders issued by the Magistrate (SDM) office. Ali was working without a valid registration or service card, which is an essential requirement to provide any type of service related to a porter, palanquin or pony.
The country mourns the loss of 26 people, which was closed by terrorists at Besaran Meadow in Pahgam on 22 April. The incident has intensified diplomatic reactions amidst security concerns between the two neighboring countries. (AI)