In one of the deadliest extremist strikes in Jammu and Kashmir in recent decades, 26 tourists, including several from Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, were gunned down in a brutal ambush at Pahalgam, a scenic hotspot often dubbed the “Mini Switzerland of India.”Among the victims were Shailesh Kalthia from Surat and Yatish Parmar from Bhavnagar, along with his young son Smit Parmar. The attack not only shattered lives but also dealt a crippling blow to Kashmir’s tourism economy.Panic spread swiftly across Gujarat, with many families abruptly cancelling their scheduled trips to the valley. Even seasoned tourists who visited Kashmir annually chose to stay away this time, triggering a sharp nosedive in footfall and revenues.Tourism, which contributes nearly 7-8% to J&K’s GDP, is the lifeline of the region’s economy, employing over 2.5 lakh people directly. More than 1,500 houseboats on Srinagar’s iconic Dal Lake and countless hotels, guides, drivers, and small businesses depend solely on tourist inflow.
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