Two killed, 6 injured in Pahalgam road accident

Srinagar, June 17 (IANS) Two people were killed and six others injured in a road accident near J&K’s Pahalgam tourist resort on Wednesday, officials said.

The accident on the Aru Valley road near Pahalgam involved a local car, whose driver lost control of the steering wheel.

“Two people were killed, and six others were injured in the incident. The injured were shifted for medical treatment. The deceased persons belong to the Dialgam area of Anantnag. Police have taken cognisance of the incident,” an official said.

On May 16, two tourists belonging to Gujarat were killed in a road accident in the same area of Pahalgam.

All hill stations of the Valley, including Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonamarg, are heavily thronged by tourists these days.

Due to the heat in the plains, tourists have been arriving in the valley in large numbers.

Hotels in Pahalgam, Sonamarg and Gulmarg are completely sold out these days, and incoming tourists have been advised to confirm their reservations in advance to avoid any inconvenience.

Kashmir is experiencing a massive tourist surge this summer, with hotels, houseboats, and resorts overflowing with visitors seeking to escape the scorching heat across India. Major destinations like Pahalgam, Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Srinagar’s Boulevard Road are packed to capacity, reviving the valley’s tourism industry.

Iconic spots like Betaab Valley in Pahalgam are seeing an uncontrollable influx of visitors, causing long queues and hours-long traffic bottlenecks, particularly on weekends.

Advance bookings continue to pour in, and accommodations are reporting near-full occupancy.

Local tour operators and tourism officials report extraordinary numbers, which have boosted the economy and signalled strong confidence in the region.

Tourist momentum was disrupted after the Pahalgam attack in April 2025, but the trust of the tourists in the goodwill of the local people and the resilience of the industry has brought the momentum back.

–IANS

sq/vd