Kashmiri students worry about studies, family income

Time of India

24-04-2025

1
2
Noida:
Kashmiri students
in NCR are worried about the economic fallout of the
Pahalgam terror attack
and the exodus of tourists from the Valley, which could have a long-term effect on their families' livelihoods back home and consequently, their studies.
Stability in the Kashmir valley over the past few years has been bringing in waves of tourists, helping drive up incomes of locals and boosting the economy, which is largely around the travel industry.
You Can Also Check:
Noida AQI
|
Weather in Noida
|
Bank Holidays in Noida
|
Public Holidays in Noida
Mehreen, a fourth year BTech student at Sharda University in Noida, said on Thursday that 90% of her family's income depends on
tourism in Kashmir
.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed!
IC Markets
Start Now
"In the past two days, almost 70% of car bookings were cancelled. My father and brother-in-law have been running a transportation business in Kashmir for the past 15 years. No matter how adverse the situation was earlier, be it the 2019 Pulwama attack or the 2016 unrest, the situation has not been this critical that tourists have cancelled trips," Mehreen said.
The 22-year-old said her family could fund her studies in NCR because of stable income from the business over the past few years.
"My brother is in school, and he also aspires to pursue higher education outside Kashmir. My sister's wedding was fixed and was to happen in a few months. With such financial loss, it will be difficult for my family to sustain all these expenses," she said.
Shoqeen, a second-year BTech student at the university, said his family, too, is reeling from the loss of customers. "We have a hotel in Pahalgam, and in one day, all 120 rooms got vacant. Some even cancelled bookings. The situation is adverse. Kashmir has always been known for its generosity and hospitality to tourists. Such incidents will hamper our livelihoods. Moreover, we condemn such acts," the second-year student said.
A picturesque meadow surrounded by snow-capped Himalayas and pine trees in Pahalgam was the site of Tuesday's gruesome attack by gunmen who opened fire on visitors, most of them tourists, killing at least 26.
The terror attack, carried out at the start of the annual tourist season, emptied out hotels as visitors rushed to leave the Valley.
Shoqeen said companies providing transport services and hotels have announced free pick-up and drops apart from concessions to bring back tourists. Others said they were afraid of any backlash and were not moving out of the college campus freely.
"There have been several instances in Chandigarh and Uttarakhand and other states, where
Kashmiri Muslim students
were asked to leave campus or they were cornered. The situation is scary. We have not gone out of the campus for the past 2 days," a 21-year-old student said.
"Every time anything happens between the two nations (India and Pakistan), it's the Kashmiris who are affected the most. We want peace and to live our lives happily. Last time in 2019 (after the Pulwama attack), there was a long internet outage in Kashmir. A lot of students left the Valley just to pursue their curriculum, to download PDFs and save them on pen drives to be able to study. Many of my cousins' families are dependent on professions such as shikara boat rides, selling dry fruits or handloom work. These situations will bring them to the road, as it happened during the (pandemic) lockdown and the 2019 attack," said another student who did not wish to be named.
Ajit Kumar, director of Sharda University, said there are around 500 Kashmiri students at the varsity.
"They are in a state of distress. But we have provided all kinds of support to the students to make them feel safe," Kumar said.