After Pahalgam Terror Attack, silence grips Wular Lake; Kashmir’s tourism industry in crisis
Tourists stay away after Pahalgam terror attack, leaving Kashmir’s Wular Lake and local economy struggling
New Delhi, 6 May 2025
The tourism industry in Kashmir Valley is going through one of its most difficult phases in recent years. Following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley on April 22, there has been a sudden and sharp drop in the number of tourists arriving in the region. One of the worst-hit areas is Wular Lake—Asia’s second-largest freshwater lake—where the once-busy shores now lie deserted. During the peak tourist season of April and May, the lake is usually filled with visitors enjoying shikara rides. Today, the boats remain empty, and their owners wait in vain for tourists who no longer arrive.
Most of the families who depend on tourism at Wular Lake are facing deep financial hardship. A local shikara operator shared, “We wait from morning to evening, but no one comes. Kashmir is known for welcoming guests. We just want peace to return so that tourism can be revived. What happened in Pahalgam was not just an attack on tourists, but on humanity itself.”
Another resident, who earlier earned between ₹1,200 and ₹1,500 daily, now struggles to make even ₹100. “We request tourists to return and see the true beauty of Kashmir. Places like Wular Lake define the region’s identity. Keeping them connected to the outside world is important not just for us, but for the country as a whole,” he said.
The impact of the attack has been widespread. Taxi drivers, hotel owners, restaurant workers, and handicraft vendors have all seen their incomes vanish overnight. The tourism-driven economy of the valley is under severe stress, putting thousands of livelihoods at risk.
Meanwhile, the administration has increased security across the region. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) recently conducted a mock drill at Dal Lake in Srinagar to test emergency response systems. The Ministry of Home Affairs has also announced that, for the first time since 1971, a nationwide civil defence mock drill will be conducted across 244 districts on May 7 to strengthen disaster management and public safety systems.
Tensions also remain high along the Line of Control (LoC). In Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, security forces have heightened alertness following 12 consecutive days of ceasefire violations by Pakistan. Police, CRPF, and the Special Operations Group (SOG) have launched intensified search operations, set up roadblocks, and are conducting regular patrols to prevent infiltration attempts.
Overall, the recent surge in terrorist activity has not only raised serious security concerns but has also devastated the fragile tourism economy of Kashmir. As silence continues to envelop its lakes and valleys, thousands of people are left grappling with unemployment and growing uncertainty.
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