Tourists Flee Kashmir After Pahalgam Attack, CM Calls Exodus Heartbreaking
A wave of tourists is departing Kashmir following a deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam on Tuesday, prompting authorities to expedite safe travel arrangements for visitors returning to their home states.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the mass departure as “heartbreaking” in a post on X. “It’s heartbreaking to witness our guests leaving the valley after yesterday’s tragic terror attack in Pahalgam, but we fully understand their reasons for doing so. The DGCA and the Ministry of Civil Aviation are arranging additional flights, and NH-44 between Srinagar and Jammu has been partially reopened for one-way traffic,” he wrote.
Abdullah added that he has instructed the administration to prioritize the movement of tourist vehicles along the Srinagar-Jammu route. “This must be managed carefully due to unstable road conditions in some areas, and we’re also working to clear stranded vehicles. We cannot allow unrestricted vehicle movement yet and ask for everyone’s cooperation,” he noted.
It’s heartbreaking to see the exodus of our guests from the valley after yesterday’s tragic terror attack in Pahalgam but at the same time we totally understand why people would want to leave. While DGCA & the Ministry of Civil Aviation are working to organise extra flights,… pic.twitter.com/5O3i5U1rBh
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) April 23, 2025
Tourism industry insiders reported widespread cancellations after the attack, which claimed 26 lives at Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam, Anantnag district. “Most tourists are leaving out of fear,” said Aijaz Ali, a Srinagar-based travel operator. “Cancellations are at nearly 80 percent, with bookings for the next month also being canceled.”
Ali lamented the setback to the region’s tourism recovery. “Years of progress have been undone. It will take significant effort to rebuild confidence in Kashmir as a destination,” he said.
Despite the panic, some tourists are choosing to stay. A visitor from Maharashtra, speaking on condition of anonymity, said she felt secure enough to continue her trip. “We were scared after hearing about the attack, but the hotel staff reassured us. We’ve seen police and army presence everywhere, and tourists are moving around safely. The fear is subsiding,” she said, noting plans to visit Pahalgam if conditions remain stable.
The Civil Aviation Ministry has urged airlines to avoid fare hikes on Srinagar routes and to operate extra flights. Air India and IndiGo are adding four flights on Wednesday, connecting Srinagar to Delhi and Mumbai. Both airlines have waived fees for ticket changes or cancellations for travel through April 30.
Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu convened an emergency meeting with airline operators, issuing a directive against surge pricing. “Airlines must maintain standard fares to avoid burdening passengers during this crisis,” an official statement confirmed.
Air India operated additional flights from Srinagar to Delhi at 1130 hours and to Mumbai at 1200 hours, with its regular five daily flights to and from Srinagar continuing as scheduled. The airline is offering free rescheduling and full refunds for bookings through April 30.
IndiGo, which operates 20 daily flights to Srinagar, has also introduced waivers for cancellations or rescheduling for travel through April 30, for bookings made on or before April 22. The airline added two flights on April 23, one each to Delhi and Mumbai.
The authorities and airlines continue to monitor the situation, prioritizing the safe departure of tourists while maintaining security in the region.