Tourists came for fun, returned in coffins: Omar

As thousands of tourists began leaving Kashmir after the gruesome terror attack in Pahalgam on Tuesday, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said it was “heartbreaking” to see the exodus of tourists.

“It’s heartbreaking to see the exodus of our guests from the Valley after yesterday’s tragic terror attack in Pahalgam but at the same time we totally understand why people would want to leave. While DGCA & the Ministry of Civil Aviation are working to organise extra flights, NH-44 between Srinagar & Jammu has been reconnected for traffic in a single direction,” the Chief Minister posted on X.

Omar also attended the funeral of 30-year-old ‘ponywala’, Syed Adil Hussain Shah, who lost his life in the terror attack. After offering prayers to the deceased, Abdullah, talking to reporters, expressed his condolences to all the victims and condemned the incident.

“The tourists had come to have a good time here and they were sent back in coffins. A poor labourer had left home to earn but died. I have heard that he tried to confront the militants and tried to snatch the gun before getting attacked,” he said. He assured the family of the deceased that his government would take care of them.

Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir cabinet on Wednesday decided to advise Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha to convene a special session of the Legislative Assembly.

The council of ministers met in Srinagar on Wednesday evening under the leadership of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, an official spokesman said.

He said that the council of ministers decided to advise the Lieutenant Governor to summon the special session of Legislative Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir on April 28 at Jammu at 10.30 am.

Rs 10 lakh for kin of J&K deceased

The J&K Government will provide Rs 10 lakh each to the families of those who lost their lives. Additionally, Rs 2 lakh will be given to those who sustained serious injuries, while Rs 1 lakh will be provided to those with minor injuries.

J & K