Srinagar, May 02: The terror attack in Baisaran Valley, Pahalgam, in south Kashmir, in which 27 tourists—including a local—lost their lives, has shattered the hopes of local cab drivers who ferry tourists and are solely dependent on the tourism industry for their livelihood.
As the tourism season in Kashmir was gaining momentum, fear and uncertainty have returned, leaving drivers struggling to cope with cancelled bookings.
Mohd Yousuf, a cab driver from Baramulla district who used to ferry tourists at Gulmarg and Tangmarg, expressed his despair and said the incident has dashed their hopes of a better livelihood.
He said he had bookings lined up till the end of May. However, after the Pahalgam terror attack, most of the bookings—including his—were suddenly cancelled.
“We were expecting a huge tourist rush this season, but now our livelihood has been badly affected, and we are unable to meet our daily needs,” he said.
The terror attack on April 22 has led to mass cancellations, with tourists now avoiding travel to the valley.
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Many unemployed youth living near Tangmarg and Gulmarg said they had planned to buy cabs to earn a livelihood, but following the uncertainty after the attack, they have suspended those plans fearing financial distress.
Bilal Ahmad, another cab driver from Tangmarg, said he bought a Scorpio last year hoping for a better income, but due to the current situation, he is now struggling to repay his loan installments.
The 33-year-old Bilal is the lone breadwinner of his family and a father of three children. “Feeding my children has become a daily struggle. The situation after the Pahalgam attack has broken our backs,” he said.
Cab drivers across the Kashmir Valley share similar stories, saying the ongoing disturbances have crippled their livelihood and shattered their hopes.
Ghulam Nabi, President of Sumo Stand No-1, Pahalgam, told Asian News Hub that nearly one thousand Sumos operate in Pahalgam and nearby tourist spots like Aru Valley, Betab Valley, and Chandanwari.
“All drivers solely depend on tourism. Post the Pahalgam terror attack, their livelihood has been crippled. The entire transport sector is now struggling to survive,” he said.
He added that before the attack, they used to witness a huge rush of tourists daily. “But now we hardly get any passengers. At least one thousand families who solely depend on these cabs have been left devastated,” the president said.
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Following the Pahalgam attack, the JK Radio Taxi Association—a collective of radio taxi drivers in the Kashmir region—offered free rides to tourists, a move that was widely hailed.
According to locals, the terror attack has not only instilled fear but also devastated the livelihoods of thousands of unemployed youth who depend on the tourism industry.
The once-thriving tourism sector in the Valley, which had recently witnessed record tourist arrivals, is now grappling with mass cancellations and a significant decline in visitors.
