Srinagar: After suffering heavy losses by 2014 floods, Mohammad Sharif, 40, had pumped all his savings into his travel agency.
Little did he know that he would face darkest face of his life, four years after when tourism sector was shattered in Kashmir. This followed Centre’s advisory on August 2 when Centre asked tourists to leave Kashmir citing militant threats.
“I have not earned a single penny for last eight months. I am not able to pay fees to coaching institute where my class 9th daughter studies,” Sharif said. He had 50 bookings that got cancelled between August and September last year. “This could have fetched me over Rs 6 lakh,” he lamented.
He told Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS) that the economy has again shattered by lockdown on COVID-19. “Business sector has been badly hit in Kashmir. Some people associated with tourism sector have not earned a single penny for last eight months,” he said.
The region faced a loss of ₹ 17,800 crore in the 120 days after August 5, according Economic Loss Assessment Report by the Kashmir Chamber of Commerce and Industries. As per the KCCI report, over 5 lakh people have got unemployed post August 5.
“Now the lockdown to contain COVID-19 has shattered our economy. Kashmir economy is fighting for its survival since August,” said a hotelier who wished not to put his name.(KINS)