Locals looted us

Pune resident narrates his ordeal after stranded in Kashmir after the terror attack

Mumbai: What was meant to be a joyful vacation, suddenly turned into a harrowing ordeal for Pune tourists. Panic and uncertainty have gripped hundreds of tourists from Pune and other parts of Maharashtra following the terror attack in Pahalgam which had left them stranded in Jammu and Kashmir. One of the group experienced fear, extortion and uncertainty for forty long hours before safely returning home.

Vijay Parge, a Karve Nagar resident and president of Pune newspaper vendor’s association had gone to Kashmir with his family. He narrowly escaped last week's terror attack in Pahalgam. Parge recalled the horrifying experience since the attack happened just hours after he departed the strike spot.

“The Kashmir tour was a horrifying experience. We left Pahalgam in the morning, and a terror attack occurred there a few hours later. It was just by the grace of god that we escaped safely. But here the ordeal of forty hour started”, Parge told ‘The Perfect Voice’.

After the attack, Parge was one of the 22 tourists stranded in Kashmir. Due to security restrictions they were forced to change the travel plane which complicated the situation further. Parge and his family members and friends missed their scheduled flight to Mumbai and Pune.

“Our first three days were really exciting and we enjoyed Kashmir. However, the terrorist attack took place and we started facing a number of problems. Security officials change the route for safety reasons. Due to the landslide the highway was closed. At this particular juncture the extortion started. At midnight the driver demanded Rs 15,000. We were left with no option but to pay him,” he added.

“The hotel owners increased the price of snacks and refreshments. In addition to it they doubled the charges of lodging. At each and every stage additional money was demanded. Somehow, we started moving towards our home in Pune. The return journey which started on April 21, early morning concluded on late night of April 23 in Mumbai,” Parge pointed out.