Srinagar, June 17: Tourist places in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), which were closed after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, have been reopened on Tuesday.
The reopening of the parks was welcomed by tourists and local visitors and many places thronged the parks. Security personnel have been deployed around the parks to secure the areas and create a sense of security. Tourist police personnel were also deployed to assist the visitors. Local MLA Ghulam Ahmed Mir also welcomed the reopening of the park.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had ordered the reopening of 16 parks, eight each in Jammu region and Kashmir Valley, which were closed after the killing of 26 people in Baisaran of Pahalgam.
He said that the destinations will be reopened in a phased manner. In the first phase, eight parks have been reopened in Kashmir Valley, including Betaab Valley and parks near Pahalgam market in Pahalgam, Verinag, Kokernag and Achabal gardens in Anantnag district, Badamwari Park, Duck Park near Nigeen and Taqdir Park near Hazratbal in Srinagar on Tuesday.
Similarly, eight sites were reopened in Jammu region, including Sarthal and Dhagar in Kathua, Devipindi, Siyad Baba and Sula parks in Reasi, Guldanda and Jai Valley in Doda and Pancheri in Udhampur.
Officials said a large number of school children welcomed tourists at Verinag, a famous park in Anantnag in south Kashmir.
A tourist from Punjab said, “It is a wonderful feeling and experience. We heard that the park is reopening today, so we came. The welcome we got is really the best experience which we cannot describe in words.” He appealed to tourists to come to Kashmir in large numbers.