*Life returning to normal in Pahalgam; tourists start visiting, say locals, hoteliers*

Approximately one week after the tragic killing of 26 people, life in Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district is beginning to return to normal.

Local residents informed the news agency—that despite the shocking incident, tourists continue to visit Pahalgam, albeit in smaller numbers.

Locals initially feared it would take a lot of time to restore tourism, but they are encouraged by the steady flow of visitors.

Zakir Ahmad, a hotelier in the area, said that while many bookings were cancelled following the attack, fresh reservations have started to emerge. “Last night, out of my 12 rooms, six were occupied, and for tonight, five rooms are already booked. We expect these numbers to increase in the coming days,” he said.

Shakeel Ahmad, another hotelier, said Pahalgam was nearly empty for about four to five days, but a noticeable increase in tourists is now underway. “Although there is still grief among the locals, the return of tourists is promising, and we anticipate a peak in visitor numbers soon,” he added.

Residents are encouraging tourists to continue visiting Pahalgam to show that they remain undeterred by recent events. They said Kashmir, known for its hospitality, will continue to welcome guests warmly—