Srinagar: Scores of horsemen in Kashmir are facing an unprecedented livelihood crisis following the prolonged closure of major tourist destinations after the Pahalgam attack. While a few destinations have been reopened, several prominent resorts including Doodhpathri, Yousmarg and Tosamaidan remain shut, leaving horsemen and their animals in despair.
Out of the 46 tourist destinations closed in the Valley in the aftermath of the attack, officials said only 13 have been reopened so far. The continued restrictions on entry to the remaining destinations have dealt a severe blow to horsemen, who rely entirely on the tourist season to feed their families and maintain their horses.
Several horsemen expressed anguish that their repeated appeals to the authorities have gone unheard. “We have no other source of income. The horses we rear are starving, and our families are struggling to survive. The government must understand that tourism is our lifeline,” said one distressed horseman.
Senior political leader Engineer Nazir Ahmed Yatoo joined the cause and staged a peaceful sit-in along with a horseman, Javaid Ahmed, outside Raj Bhavan yesterday. Yatoo said he had hoped to personally submit an appeal to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha for the reopening of tourist spots but was informed that the LG was not present.
“I wanted to request him to reopen these destinations for the sake of horsemen and their animals. Earlier, I staged a protest outside the Chief Minister’s residence at Gupkar but was told that law and order is the domain of the LG. That is why I came here to Raj Bhavan,” Yatoo told the news agency Kashmir News Trust, making a fervent appeal for urgent intervention.
Tourism stakeholders have also warned that prolonged closures could lead to an irreversible loss of livelihood for thousands of families connected with the sector, from horsemen to small traders and transporters.
Equestrians urged the administration to strike a balance between security imperatives and the livelihood needs of those dependent on tourism, stressing that reopening the remaining destinations with adequate safeguards would ease the crisis. [KNT]
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