Pahalgam cab drivers struggle as tourism declines
Pahalgam, Apr 26: Some idle away their time playing cricket, others sit in their taxis and listen to Bollywood ditties, while many simply stay at home. Following the attack on tourists, this has become the daily reality for hundreds of cab drivers in Pahalgam. The area, which hosts two major cab stands, with a fleet of around 700 to 800 taxis, is now eerily quiet.
As the April 22 terrorist attack, which left 26 people dead, severely impacted tourism, the cab drivers find themselves with little or no work, leaving them to spend time in different ways.
“Since the attack, we are left with no work. Business has dropped to almost nothing”, said Mohammad Abdullah, a taxi driver. “Now we are whiling the day by playing cricket or other activities” said the cab driver. What makes the situation even grimmer for these drivers is the loans they have taken from banks to purchase their vehicles. The rising interests on their loans have trapped them in a financial bind. “We just want to get back to work. We’ve been doing this for years, but now, we have no idea when things will return to normal”, said another cab driver.
Before the terror strike shattered the business, the area was teeming with tourists and parking slots fully booked with vehicles. The terror strike, however, spelt doom for local business with tourists fearing to visit the area. “Before the attack, we were busy all day, but now we just wait. We don't know when things will get back to normal”, said the cab drivers. Sakib Ahmad, in charge of a cab stand, said that while few tourists were still coming, they hesitated to go for sight-seeing.
The local cab drivers would usually ferry the tourists to scenic destinations like Betaab Valley, Aru Valley and Chandanwari, the most popular spots in Pahalgam. These day trips had been a major source of income for them. “We hope that situation improves soon and our guests will return”, said the drivers. They said that the attack hit the economic life line of Kashmir.
