Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 4: With just few non-local tourists left in Kashmir after the advisory directing them to leave, Shikara owners around Dal Lake have been left high and dry for the want of livelihood.
Hundreds of Shikara owners are having nothing in hand and are saying that the Govt has played with their lives and the lives of their family members as it, all of a sudden, issued such an order which has only created panic among everyone.
“They have literally stabbed us in the back, what is the fun of asking the tourists to leave the Valley when everything was normal; even in worst conditions, the tourists have always been safe,” said Younis Ahmad, a Shikara owner, adding that by doing it “the Govt has made our lives hell.”
While the Shikara owners, on average used to earn Rs 1500 per day just before the advisory was issued, they, however, have not earned a single penny for the last couple of days, making it impossible for them to take care of the day to day needs of their family.
They say that this year, the tourist season was much better than any other previous season and they were expecting the season to improve even more in coming days. “But they have ruined it all and side by side ruining our lives,” Younis said.
The rowers were either seen sleeping in their empty Shikaras or were waiting for somebody to come and hire the ride. They also knew that there were bleak chances of somebody coming to them for a ride, but were still lingering around with eyes full of hope.
“I have family back home, who is going to feed them when I will not be able to earn even a single penny in the absence of tourists who are the sole means of our earning,” said Bilal Ahmad, another Shikara owner.
The situation in houseboats is somewhat similar. Those who were staying there either left or were made to leave on Saturday night. The houseboats in the Dal Lake are either empty or are hosting fewer tourists from the country.
“Most of the houseboats are empty now, as the authorities, after the advisory was issued, visited here and told the tourists to leave; we were even told not to let anyone stay,” said Fayaz Ahmad, who works at one of the houseboats in Dal.
Few non-local tourists were seen roaming around the Dal, while some had flights to catch and were waiting for cabs to drop them off at the airport, some had just reached Srinagar from Ladakh after their trip culminated. What turned out to be common among all of them was that everyone was set to leave Kashmir.
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