Kerala tourists group in Pahalgam undeterred by recent terror attack: Here’s why

A 12-member friends group from Kerala were bored of heading to Goa repeatedly for their get-togethers. This year, they decided to pick a new destination and chase fresh experiences. Little did they know what the decision had in store for them - a paradise that was all theirs. Yes, their new destination was Kashmir. 

The group, which planned the trip just two weeks ago, comprises Lenin Raj, P Syam Mohan, PV Vishnu, K Sachidanandan, Vivek Dalia, P Ajay, M Jaseer, CK Shafeeq, A Vignesh, Ajith Krishnan, PK Ranjith and V Jithin who work at Shoranur municipality, Lakkidi panchayat, VPA UP School, Kundoorkunnu, Cherpulassery Cooperative Bank, Municipality and HDFC bank. Although they were shocked by the gruesome terrorist attack at Pahalgam, the group were determined to go for the trip.

They started on April 23, a day after the Pahalgam attack. From Shoranur, they reached Chennai and then boarded the Jammu Tavi Express. They reached Jammu on April 26. On the 27th, they took a road trip, enjoying the various places along the way. They visited Sonmarg on April 28 and Gulmarg and Dalgate on the next day. They didn’t experience any problem, although they noticed increased police presence on the road and in public places.

The group say that they had asked a Malayali army officer stationed in Srinagar whether there would be war. He just smiled back at them and didn’t say anything. However, they are worried about the families who keep calling them frantically after watching the new channels. Strict restrictions were imposed when they reached Pahalgam on April 30. Tourists weren’t allowed to enter the main tourist spots. The Malayali tourists expressed hope that these restrictions would be lifted within a few days.

“I don’t understand why people hesitate to come here, as they can visit a lot of other places. We shouldn’t allow our tourism sector to get destroyed, so tourists should courageously visit Kashmir,” says Vivek Dalia.

“Terrorists are trying to create unrest again in Kashmir by destroying their tourism. We shouldn’t fall into that trap,” the youngsters say in unison. The group will return to Kerala, thrilled that they were able to explore the peaceful streets and tourist spots of Pahalgam, which is still crowded with tourists from various parts of the country.