CM Omar Abdullah has announced that all tourist destinations in J&K that were shut after the Pahalgam terror attack would be reopened by May. In April 2025, terrorists attacked Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam, killing 25 tourists and a local ponywala. After the attack, tourist footfall in Kashmir dropped from 34.98 lakh in 2024 to just 11.16 lakh in 2025, while in Jammu it declined from 2.01 crores in 2024 to 1.62 lakhs. Omar said the government was in talks with the Centre on the issue. After the attack, 70 tourist spots in J&K were shut. Recently, L-G Manoj Sinha ordered the reopening of 14 closed tourist spots—11 in Kashmir and 3 in Jammu.
Omar rebukes party MLA Veeri in Assembly
CM Omar Abdullah rebuked his party MLA Dr Basheer Ahmed Veeri in the Assembly over complaints of increased electricity bills in his constituency. Veeri, who defeated PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti’s daughter Iltija Mufti from the Bijbehara constituency, informed the Assembly that he had spent months reviewing power bills in his constituency and found discrepancies. He claimed consumers were receiving inflated bills and alleged lack of accountability among the PDD officials. Omar, who also holds charge of the Power, denied any hike in power tariff in J&K since December 2023. “We have to listen to the public,” he said.
Khelo India in Gulmarg kicks off today
The second leg of the Khelo India Winter Games will begin in the world-famous ski resort of Gulmarg on Monday. About 800 athletes would participate in the event from February 23-26. The first leg of the Khelo India Winter Games for ice events was held in Ladakh’s Leh from January 20 to 26. Gulmarg would host snow sports competitions in four disciplines—ski mountaineering, alpine skiing, Nordic skiing and snowboarding. Top skiers will participate in the Khelo India Winter Games in Gulmarg. Since the inauguration edition in January 2020, the Khelo India Winter Games has become a regular feature on the ski slopes of Gulmarg.
Fayaz Wani
Our correspondent in Jammu and Kashmir
fayazwani123@gmail.com