80 Telangana tourists stranded in Srinagar after Pahalgam attack. Govt sets up helpline, ensures safety and plans their return amid tight security
Hyderabad: Nearly 80 tourists from Telangana have been left stranded in different parts of Srinagar after terrorists killed 26 people in Pahalgam. They had left Jammu early Tuesday and had reached Srinagar around 3 pm — by the time terrorists unleashed terror on tourists in Pahalgam, throwing the region in a heightened state of alert.
Out of 80 people from the state, 20 were from Hyderabad, 10 from Warangal, 15 from Mahabubnagar and 10 from Sangareddy district. It is also known that two families from Medak are also a part of the group.
As a result of the heightened security measures in the area and a shutdown call from political parties and trade bodies, the tourists reached out to the Telangana government seeking help.
In a video released on Wednesday, five to six people explained their fear.
“After reaching Srinagar at around 3 pm, we got to know about the attack. We changed our plans, but there is no means for us to leave the place now. The plan was to visit Pahalgam and go back to our respective places by April 26, but this news has left us devastated,” the tourists said in unison, adding, “We want to come back safe now.”
The video is being widely circulated on social media.
Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, Vandhana, the nodal officer at the Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi, said, “They are safe, but are stranded. We are trying to make sure that we are available for them, and have been in touch with both the Pahalgam and the Srinagar control room since last evening.”
The Telangana government has set up a helpline to assist people from the state in case they find themselves in a problem. For information or assistance, people can contact Vandhana at 9871999044 and Hyder Ali Naqvi at 9971387500.
The Telangana police has beefed up security measures across the state, with special emphasis on public places, prominent landmarks, and transportation centres such as railway stations and bus terminals.
