Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Saturday said the region’s tourism sector has faced a challenging year due to low tourist footfall and now they are expecting good snowfall in December to boost tourist footfall. Speaking to the media, Chief Minister Abdullah said that tourist destinations have been affected due to drought in November. However, he further said that there is a steady inflow of tourists and the fresh snowfall is expected to significantly increase the number of tourists in the valley.
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Omar Abdullah said that wherever there are commercial ties, people associated with the tourism industry are expected to benefit. The biggest factor that promotes tourism is promotion and marketing. This year has not been easy for us in terms of tourism. Be it Pahalgam, Delhi or Naugam… the biggest factor increasing the number of tourists in this season is snowfall. November is dry. We are expecting good snowfall in December… Tourists are still coming to Pahalgam and other parts of the valley, but snowfall will give further boost to tourism.
The Pahalgam attack that took place on April 22, 2025, in the Baisaran Valley of Jammu and Kashmir was reportedly a targeted terrorist attack on tourists, predominantly Hindus, resulting in the death of 26 civilians and injuries to 20 others. A total of 15 people were killed and over two dozen others were injured in an explosion in a moving Hyundai i20 car in Delhi on November 10 at around 7 pm. This car was being driven by an alleged suicide bomber Omar Un Nabi.
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In Naugam, Jammu and Kashmir, nine policemen were killed and 32 others were injured in an accidental explosion inside the Naugam police station late on the night of 14 November. The explosion also caused heavy damage to a nearby building. Earlier on Friday, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during a press conference expressed disappointment over the central government’s interference in the state’s affairs, saying he was being unfairly targeted. He stressed that no one has the right to illegally encroach on government land, but criticized the targeting of a single community.