LG, CM express grief
Srinagar, June 17: Two persons were killed and six others injured in a road accident near Aru in Pahalgam on Wednesday, prompting Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to express grief and direct authorities to provide assistance to the affected families.
Officials said the accident occurred on the Aru Valley road near the tourist resort of Pahalgam when the driver of a local vehicle allegedly lost control, leading to the crash.
“Two people were killed and six others injured in the incident. The injured were shifted for medical treatment. The deceased belonged to the Dialgam area of Anantnag district,” an official said, adding that police have taken cognisance of the incident and initiated further proceedings.
In a condolence message, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said he was pained by the loss of lives in the tragic accident and conveyed his heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved families.
“My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members in this hour of grief,” the Lieutenant Governor said, while directing the district administration to provide all necessary assistance to those affected.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also expressed profound grief over the accident and extended his condolences to the families of the deceased. He prayed for eternal peace to the departed souls and strength to the families to bear the loss.
Expressing concern over the injured, the Chief Minister directed the concerned authorities to ensure that they receive the best possible medical treatment without delay and instructed the administration to extend all necessary assistance and support to the affected families.
The accident comes a month after two tourists from Gujarat were killed in a road accident in the same area of Pahalgam on May 16.
Pahalgam, along with Gulmarg and Sonamarg, is currently witnessing a heavy influx of tourists as visitors from across the country head to Kashmir to escape the summer heat in the plains. The surge has led to near-full occupancy in hotels and resorts across major tourist destinations in the Valley.
Tourism stakeholders have reported a strong revival in visitor arrivals this summer, with destinations such as Pahalgam’s Betaab Valley witnessing heavy footfall and frequent traffic congestion during weekends. The renewed tourist rush follows a temporary setback after the April 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam, with industry players attributing the recovery to improved visitor confidence and the resilience of the tourism sector.
