Mudassir Ahmad
Pahalgam, Apr 25: Despite a recent terrorist attack at Baisaran valley, tourists from West Bengal have shown resilience by continuing their journey through the picturesque valley.
Among them is 55-year-old Depjit Saha, an employee of the Telephone Authority of India, who arrived in Srinagar on April 18 along with four friends and their families.
For the initial three days, the group explored Srinagar, Sonamarg, and Gulmarg.
They were scheduled to visit Pahalgam on April 22 but were caught near the site of the attack around 3:30 PM on Tuesday. Shaken but undeterred, the group returned to Srinagar for safety.
“We felt scared, but we did not flee. We stayed in Srinagar for three more days and came to Pahalgam on Friday,” said Saha, reflecting a strong spirit despite the tense situation.
In total, at least 11 tourists from West Bengal reached Pahalgam on Friday, determined to continue their vacation and not let fear dictate their plans.
Sushanth Malik from Hooghly, West Bengal, who is visiting with his wife and son, echoed similar sentiments. “Our families were a bit worried, but we did not want to leave Kashmir. Locals have been very supportive. This is our first trip, but certainly not the last. We will keep coming,” he said.
He also made a heartfelt appeal to fellow countrymen: “This is our country, and we should not stop coming to Kashmir. We must defeat the designs of those who want to spread fear.”(KINS)
