Welcome Move, JK Tourism suspended water rafting

Srinagar, June 27(KMW): Recently in a welcomed move by all sane circles the Jammu and Kashmir tourism department few days back suspended rapid water rafting in the valley’s Lidder and Sindh streams.
The development came after deaths occured with reference to water rafting in past years as well as recently.
Pertinently, an order issued by the director tourism said till a proper safety mechanism is put in place rafting in the two streams will remain suspended.
On the other hand, The suspension order was issued after two deadly recent accidents occurred during rafting expeditions in the Lidder stream of Pahalgam area.
On June 1, a tourist guide, Rouf Ahmad Dar died while saving the five tourists during a rafting accident in Lidder.
The another sad episode occurred on June 18, two people including a tourism department employee were killed in another rafting accident in the same stream.People have welcomed this move of the Jammu Kashmir tourism Department.
Adil Ahmad, a tourist guide stated : “ We are a place that is famous for tourism worldwide .Kashmir has a diverse range of tourist spots with those with water resources like gushing water streams, beautiful lakes , flowing rivers so the water rafting is a very vital and attractive activity in number of our tourist spots like Pahalgam , Sonmarg but the worrying thing is off late unfortunate incidents leading to death due to water rafting has pained one and all. The tourism department has made a great decision to suspend it for time being .With proper training and modus operandi in place that ensures no loss of lives one hopes water rafting will once again be hot attraction of our rivers.”