Nainital, once a bustling paradise for tourists, is now eerily quiet, mirroring the desolation seen in Kashmir after the recent Pahalgam attack. This picturesque hill station in Uttarakhand is experiencing an unprecedented slump in tourism, with roads deserted, taxis idle, boats adrift without passengers, and the usually vibrant Mall Road eerily empty. The drastic drop in visitors has sent ripples of concern through the local community, whose livelihoods are intricately tied to the tourism industry. While there’s a slow trickle of tourists returning, the numbers are nowhere near the usual peak season influx typically observed in May and June.

The severity of the situation is starkly evident in hotel bookings. May and June, traditionally peak months attracting tourists from Delhi-NCR, Punjab, Gujarat, and Maharashtra seeking respite from the scorching heat, are witnessing a dismal occupancy rate of just 10-15% compared to a robust 90% last year. The Nainital Hotel and Restaurant Association estimates a staggering loss exceeding ₹60 crore for the tourism sector, impacting everyone from hoteliers to taxi operators, boatmen, and shopkeepers. The primary catalyst for this downturn was a horrific incident on May 1st, where a 12-year-old child was sexually assaulted by a 60-year-old man, Mohammed Usman. The incident sparked widespread protests and vandalism, with some demonstrations escalating into violence, targeting Muslim-owned businesses and even a mosque. Videos of these events, widely circulated on social media, instilled fear among potential tourists, leading to mass cancellations. Adding to these local concerns, recent security issues in Pahalgam have also made tourists wary, while rising costs, increased toll fees, severe traffic jams, and a perceived lack of government intervention to revive tourism are pushing visitors towards alternative destinations like Kausani, Bhimtal, and Mukteshwar.