Planning a trip to Pahalgam? Tourist destination closed for day picnickers on weekends.

In a move to prevent possible COVID-19 resurgence due to heavy tourist influx at the resort of late, the district administration Anantnag on Wednesday barred day picnickers from visiting tourist destination Pahalgam on Saturdays and Sundays.

An order in this regard was issued by Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Dr Piyush Singla, who is also the Chairman District Disaster Management Authority.

“A large number of people are thronging Pahalgam especially on the weekend which poses danger of COVID-19 resurgence. Hence restrictions under section 144 of CrPC, Disaster Management Act, 2005, and Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897, stand imposed,” the order read.

It said that the entry to day-picnickers would be barred on Saturdays and Sundays.

The order, however, directed that only those visitors with confirmed advance bookings at the hotels shall be allowed to proceed towards Pahalgam.

SDPOs Srigufwara and Aishmuqam have been asked to establish checkpoints at Aishmuqam, Langanbal, Nunwan and Srigufwara to ensure that only bona fide tourists having advance hotel bookings are allowed an entry.

A fine of Rs 1000 shall be imposed on locals, tourists and hotel staff found roaming without facemasks or assembling in large numbers at a particular place, the order said.

It also prohibited haphazard erecting of tents and cooking at the tourist destination and directed officials concerned to designate a particular area for the tents.