"Tourists are coming back to Kashmir in good numbers": CM Abdullah wants people from West Bengal to visit valley

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], July 9 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday emphasised that the tourism sector in Kashmir is witnessing a positive surge, following the April 22 Pahalgam attack, with the pilgrims arriving in large numbers for the Amarnath Yatra.
CM Abdullah arrived in Kolkata today to take part in a tourism fair.
Speaking to the media, he said, "Tourists are coming back to Kashmir in good numbers. Amarnath Yatra has also begun, and pilgrims have been coming in good numbers on both routes. I talked to some pilgrims, and they are all happy."
"I have come to Kolkata to take part in the tourism fair because we want tourists from West Bengal to come to Jammu and Kashmir in good numbers," CM Abdullah said.
Meanwhile, an Amarnath Yatra pilgrim from the Philippines, who is a member of the Indian diaspora, praised the administration of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir for arrangements made for the pilgrimage, despite initial fears following the Pahalgam terror attack.
"I have come from the Philippines... This is my first time on the yatra. People were scared following the Pahalgam terror attack. But we did not witness anything like that. Here, every arrangement has been made properly. Security has been provided, langar is in place," she said.
She also expressed her faith and wished for the well-being of fellow devotees. "Bholenath' (name for Lord Shiva) should keep everyone safe and wish devotees a happy return to their homes. It was a very great experience. Everything is safe, come for Yatra, don't get scared," she appealed to the devotees while speaking with ANI.
The seventh batch of pilgrims departed for the Amarnath Yatra from the Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam on Wednesday. Devotees at the site expressed satisfaction with the arrangements and prayed for peace and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir.
Visuals showed pilgrims beginning their spiritual journey toward the sacred Amarnath cave shrine.
Deepa, a pilgrim from Bhopal, hailed the arrangements made for the Yatra and said that she would pray for everyone's well-being."
The vibes here are very positive...I will pray for the well-being of everyone. May all stay healthy. The arrangements here are very good," she told ANI.
Kamal, another devotee from Delhi, echoed similar feelings. "I will pray for the peace and well-being of everyone. The arrangements here are very good," he said.
The 38-day annual Amarnath pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine in South Kashmir began on July 3, 2025, and will conclude on August 9, 2025, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan.
The pilgrimage is taking place simultaneously via both the Pahalgam route (Anantnag district) and the Baltal route (Ganderbal district).
Amarnath Yatra is an annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave, where devotees pay homage to an ice stalagmite believed to be the lingam of Lord Shiva.
The ice stalagmite forms every year during the summer months and reaches its maximum size in July and August, when thousands of Hindu devotees make an annual pilgrimage to the cave. (ANI)