‘Tourists are like our own family members’

Srinagar, Apr 23: In the aftermath of the horrific attack on tourists in south Kashmir’s famous resort Pahalgam, Rickshaw drivers and cab operators have extended a helping hand to tourists camping in the summer capital.

Following the killing of 25 tourists in a terror attack, hoteliers, civil society members, and local business owners have been offering free lodging and other services. The cab and Rickshaw operators in Srinagar came forward to offer free rides to tourists who are heading to the Srinagar Airport and the Railway station at Nowgam.

Bashir Ahmad Badyari, president of the auto-rickshaw stand in Srinagar’s commercial hub, Lal Chowk, said that they have kept 18 auto-rickshaws for free rides to distressed tourist families who need to reach Srinagar Airport and the railway station.

“We ferried several families since morning for without any charges to the Airport and the railway station. This is the time when we should stand in solidarity with the tourists who have lost loved ones in the attack. It should not be limited to words only, and action. Tourists have been contributing to our livelihood for decades, and if we cannot give something back to them in such a tragedy, then we are failing as a society,’ Badyari said.

He said that the Rickshaw owners come from a humble background, but still they won’t back off from extending a helping hand to tourists. In addition to Rickshaw owners, the cab operators from the JK Radio Taxi Association also offered tourists free rides to the airport. They said in the face of tragedy, they are offering their vehicles for free. These operators had also displayed the placards on their cabs that read “We are strongly concerned about the Pahalgam attack, where innocents have been attacked.”

“Soon after the attack in Pahalgam on Tuesday, our association decided to offer free rides for tourists. As the tourists are heading home in huge numbers, the air ticket prices are skyrocketing, and we want to give them some respite by offering free rides,” said one of the Cab operators.

As soon as the news of the attack on tourists spread across Kashmir, the hotel owners and other tourist players came forward to help the distressed tourists. Many hoteliers also posted on social media about offering free lodging to tourists who were stranded in Pahalgam.