The unrest in Kashmir triggered by the killing of a militant commander on July 8 has led to the business loss of Rs 10,000 crore to the state.
Clashes, curfew, Internet and phone restrictions in Jammu and Kashmir have spoiled the peak tourism and pilgrimage season of the state.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCI) and other stakeholders of tourism were expecting more than five lakh pilgrims during the Amarnath yatra and lakhs of tourists were also expected in Kashmir as well Jammu during the month of July this year. But the ongoing turmoil in Kashmir has cancelled the trip of thousands of tourists and pilgrims and it will also affect tourism and pilgrimage in the coming months.
“It is not possible to assess actual loss on ground, but approximately business worth Rs 10,000 crore has been lost in the last 12 days in Jammu and Kashmir. It will also affect the trade in the coming months,” said Rakesh Gupta, president, Chamber of Commerce and Industries, Jammu.
“We were expecting five lakh pilgrims in the ongoing Amarnath yatra, which seems to be confined to two lakh only. The peak season for tourists and pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir is June and July, but the recent turmoil in the Kashmir valley has spoiled the season for traders,” he added.
Due to unrest in Kashmir the trade between Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh has been affected, Internet services in the state and telephone lines in Kashmir have been snapped and trucks are not being allowed to move towards the Kashmir Valley as they are being attacked by furious protesters.
The number of pilgrims to the Amarnath shrine has also fallen down in the past few days, as the yatra was suspended twice in the last 13 days. The reports of attack on pilgrims by protesters have badly affected the yatra. However, the administration continues to change the time and route of the yatra from Jammu to Pahalgam and Baltal and increased the security of the pilgrims for the smooth conduct of the yatra.
Hoteliers also claimed that advance bookings for the month of July have been cancelled by tourists due to uncertainty prevailing in the state because of Kashmir unrest.
The airlines, which were all packed and charging their highest fare for Srinagar, are taking off with a few passengers for Srinagar and the fare has also came down drastically.
State incurs a loss of Rs 10,000 cr in 12 days
