One year after the Pahalgam attack: QR codes for pony operators and security forces keeping watch everywhere—what is the current situation in Baisaran Valley?

Pahalgam News: One year after the tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, as the first anniversary of the incident approaches, the valley is witnessing a tremendous surge in tourism. The terrorist attack claimed the lives of 26 people. In 2025, the incident caused a heavy drop in tourist numbers. Now, Pahalgam and other famous tourist destinations are once again buzzing with activity, reflecting a strong recovery in tourism.

As the first anniversary of the April 22, 2025, terrorist attack approaches, a special memorial is becoming a main focal point for tourists and locals to pay tribute to the 26 victims.

This memorial was built by the government and is often called ‘Shaheed Marg’ (Martyr’s Path). It is constructed near Pahalgam’s famous ‘Selfie Point’ along the banks of the Lidder River. It serves as a permanent place in memory of the 25 tourists and one local pony handler who were killed in a ambush terrorist attack in the Baisaran meadow.

The memorial lists the names of all 26 victims, allowing visitors to offer flowers, light candles, and pray. Tourists visiting Pahalgam now consider it essential to stop at this ‘Shaheedi Smarak’ (Martyrs’ Memorial). As they read the names of those who were lost, their mood shifts from fun to deep thought and peace.

Tourist Arun Goel, who came to pay tribute at the martyr memorial, said, ‘We saw this and learned it is a memorial for the martyrs of the Pahalgam attack. We came here and paid our respects. Having this memorial here ensures those people will always live on; it is a great honor for them.’

Boosting tourism, government figures show that over 2.5 lakh tourists have visited Srinagar’s famous ‘Indira Gandhi Memorial Tulip Garden’ in the past month alone. This huge crowd highlights that Kashmir remains a highly attractive and essential destination for tourists. Officials and locals view this heavy presence as a strong response to the terrorists and their cross-border masters, whose aim was to damage the peace and tourism-dependent economy here.

The large number of returning tourists express complete trust in the security forces. Many tourists have stated that their decision to come here is based on current ground realities rather than past incidents. Several people described the area as safe and praised the hospitality of the locals. Comparing tourist arrival data, last April after the attack, Pahalgam had 0% bookings, and today in April, Pahalgam has 90% bookings. Tourists say the atmosphere has completely changed from fear to one of trust.

Urusha Jamwal, coming from Australia, said, ‘It is a coincidence that we are here during the days when the attack happened last year. That was very wrong. But to tell the truth, we have been here for four days, and we didn’t even realize that this is Kashmir and something happened here. The administration is alert, but the locals appeared very cooperative. Only two of us women came, and we never felt we were alone.’

The building of trust and feeling safe is the result of steps taken by the administration and local community to bridge the trust deficit and ensure security. A unique digital identification system (QR code) has been launched for all tourism service providers in Pahalgam. Tourists can scan these codes to instantly verify the proper identity, registration, and police clearance status of pony operators, shawl vendors, and shop owners, as well as others involved in tourism.

To further strengthen security and transparency, the administration has introduced QR code-based tracking methods. These codes have been issued to taxi drivers, shopkeepers, hotel staff, and tourist guides. This system also provides GPS-based monitoring, adding another layer of security.

Pony Association President Ejaz Ahmed said, ‘This is a very good step. Tourists will feel safe. When they learn from the code’s information that the person they are going with is registered and also police-verified, it will keep wrongdoers away and also increase our business.’

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