HYDERABAD: The terrorist attack in Anantnag district in Kashmir on July 10, 2017, night in which seven pilgrims were killed has not deterred people from undertaking the trip. Speaking to some travel agencies in Hyderabad and New Delhi revealed that many people from Hyderabad are taking the trip to Amarnath despite the terrorist attack and there were no cancellations.
Janardhan Reddy of SVR Travels said, “Today (Tuesday) itself we had a batch of pilgrims who left for Amarnath yatra. Although there have been frequent violent incidents in Kashmir since past few years, there has been no drastic fall in demand for the trip from people in Telangana and AP. We are being careful from our side. We have deployed a person who knows everything related to yatra to assist travellers. The person will return to Hyderabad after pilgrimage season ends.”
An official of Southern Travels in New Delhi, with which many pilgrims from Hyderabad register for the yatra said, “There have been some frantic calls from those who have booked with us for the yatra inquiring us about the safety aspect but there have been no cancellations. Our batches of pilgrims travelling by road will start from Delhi on Wednesday as usual. There was no trip on Tuesday.”
Reddy, however, had a word of advise for those who are planning to undertake Amarnath yatra, “Keeping in mind the incidents taking place in Kashmir, it is advised that the pilgrims fly to Srinagar rather than travelling by road. Travelling by road to Kashmir from Delhi, one has to pass through some violence prone areas like Anantnag. Moreover, if a curfew is imposed then one might get stuck. From Srinagar airport route till Amarnath is very safe. Even if one plans to to visit Vaishnodevi from Srinagar, it is advised to fly to Jammu from Srinagar.”