Hotels Cut Jobs as Pony Operators, Cab Drivers Struggle

Srinagar, May 14: Tourism in Pahalgam has suffered a major setback following the April 22 attack that claimed the lives of 26 tourists and a local pony operator.

The once-bustling resort now wears a deserted look.

Hotels have laid off staff, while pony operators and taxi drivers are left without work or income.

Before the attack, Pahalgam was thriving.

Hotels were fully booked, pony Wallas were busy giving rides to visitors, and taxi drivers were ferrying tourists to scenic destinations. That has changed dramatically.

"With no tourists coming in, we were forced to send almost all our staff home for now," said Ibrahim Raina, owner of Hotel Brown Palace. "We had 67 staff members, including receptionists, room service personnel, waiters, and cooks. Only two remain now; the rest have been relieved."

Raina added that the hotel had bookings lined up until August.

Since the attack, cancellations have poured in, and no new bookings are being made.

Pahalgam and its vicinity have over 800 hotels, guest houses, and huts, employing more than 7,000 people.

According to Raina, most hotel owners have taken similar steps --cutting down operations and sending their staff home due to the lack of tourists.

The sudden halt in tourism has also devastated the livelihoods of hundreds of pony operators.

“I used to earn at least Rs 1,500 a day, out of which I would pay Rs 1,000 to the owner of the pony and keep Rs 500 for myself. Now I don’t earn anything,” said Ismail, a pony operator.

Abdul Wahid Wani, President of the Pony Operators Association in Pahalgam, said there are around 5,000 ponies in the area.

“More than 7,000 families used to survive by offering pony rides to tourists, but now they are all sitting idle,” said Wani.

The pony Wallas also ferried tourists to Baisaran Meadow, a popular 6-kilometre trail from Pahalgam’s Circuit Road, and were among the first responders during the April 22 attack.

One of them, Syed Adil, lost his life while saving tourists.

Cab drivers have also been severely affected.

Once busy ferrying tourists to sites like Aru, Betaab Valley, and Chandanwari, they now wait in silence at the town’s two main taxi stands.

“Fifty percent of the drivers had taken bank loans to purchase their vehicles. Now, with no income, they face an uncertain and dark future,” said Ghulam Nabi, President of Taxi Stand No. 1 in Pahalgam, which has 450 registered cabs.

Overall, there are 950 taxis operating in Pahalgam, providing employment to over 1,600 families. Most of the vehicles now remain parked.