Curfew-hit Ladakh turns out to be a nightmare for stranded foreign tourists
Leh: The ongoing curfew and lockdown in Ladakh region of occupied Jammu and Kashmir following mass protests has left foreign and domestic tourists stranded in Leh, with many complaining of lack of information and official indifference.
According to Kashmir Media Service, Amanda V. Varvocks, an Australian tourist, said her long-cherished visit to Ladakh turned into a nightmare after she was confined to her hotel amid curfew.
“We had planned to visit Pangong Lake and other places, but the administration is not forthcoming. They are even refusing our permits citing missing signatures. There is no clarity at all,” she said.
She added that hotel staff are worried as supplies are running low due to the restrictions. “This is not how I imagined visiting Ladakh,” Varvocks lamented, urging authorities to provide clear guidance to tourists stuck in the town.
Varvocks, accompanied by Indian citizen Anuj Handoo, noted that most of tourists remain confined to their rooms. “We return on October 2 and request the government to appoint a nodal officer to facilitate movement of tourists,” Handoo said.
The curfew was imposed after violent protests erupted during a shutdown called by the youth wing of the Leh Apex Body (LAB) demanding statehood and extension of the sixth schedule to Ladakh. Police firing on demonstrators left four civilians dead and scores injured, sparking anger across the region.
