Bengal tourists recently back from Kashmir devastated by Pahalgam terrorist attack, feel sad for its people too

bengal tourist speak about experience after pahalgam terror attack, they are also concerned about the people in kashmir

As the Chief Security Officer at the Bagdogra airport in north Bengal, it is Ritika Kanjilal’s job to constantly be on the caution mode and be suspicious of people. It was only when she went to Kashmir, very recently, that she breathed easy, submitting to the beauty of the place and the warmth of its people. She had barely got back home when Pahalgam happened.

“The terrorist attack has left me deeply shaken. The serene beauty of the region, which had drawn me in, now stands in stark contrast to the harrowing events that unfolded. I recall the warmth and hospitality of the local people, the vibrant markets, and the breathtaking landscapes. It’s heart-wrenching to think that such a peaceful place could be marred by such violence,” Ms. Kanjilal told The Hindu.

Tourists from Bengal, who generally confine themselves to Darjeeling and Sikkim during summers, had recently started going on holidays to Kashmir in large numbers, with social media posts often serving as the inspiration. The Pahalgam killings has come as a massive shock to those who were there only days ago, with many seeing it as a narrow escape. But unlike those who have never been to Kashmir and are writing angry post against its people and their religion, these travellers are feeling sad for the lay Kashmiri who will be hit hard if tourism is impacted by the killings.

“I think this incident has not only instilled fear among travellers but will also severely impact the livelihoods of those who depend on tourism. But despite the tragedy, I find solace in the resilience of the Kashmiri people. Their calls for peace and condemnation of the attacks reflect a community striving to reclaim its identity and stability. As a traveller, I stand in solidarity with them, hoping for a future where such atrocities cease, and the region can once again be a heaven for visitors seeking its unique charm,” Ms. Kanjilal said.

Soma Roy, who works with ICAR-NINFET in Kolkata, was in Pahalgam only a day before the shooting and had left for Vaishno Devi. Still on the way back to Kolkata, she said, “Walking by the Lidder River, sipping noon chai, laughing with strangers who felt like old friends — the Valley was so serene, it felt untouched by sorrow. And now this. It’s hard to grasp how something so horrific could happen in a place so peaceful. There’s a heaviness in my chest thinking of the people I passed: the shopkeeper who smiled as he handed me almonds, the little boy chasing sheep near Betaab Valley — will they be okay? That I stood in a place that would soon echo with screams and chaos — the thought is chilling. How can something so cruel unfold so suddenly in a place that felt like paradise just days ago?”

For the past two days only one thought has been dominating the mind of Satabdi Chatterjee, a Chandannagar resident teaching in a Kolkata school: what if the attack had taken place two weeks ago, when she spent a couple of hours at Baisaran (where the attack happened) along with her husband and son?

“White snow and green meadows — the place is indeed paradise on earth. Even better than the place are its people, they treat tourists like God. I am 50 now, but I felt the joy of a child, I felt as if I was there on honeymoon. But now images of the same snow soaked in blood keeps returning to my mind,” Ms. Chatterjee said.