Darjeeling: Tourism industry in Hills dealt body blow

Darjeeling: The picturesque hill station was teeming with tourists just a few days ago but the sudden turmoil and indefinite bandh called by GJM seemed to have dealt a body blow to tourism, one of the two main industries in the hills.

After Thursday’s violence, tension prevailed in the hills and hardly any tourist is visible on the deserted roads, including the one leading to the mall.

Several tourists who had come to enjoy the scenic beauty of the ‘Queen of Hill Stations’ were finding it difficult to get down safely to the plains. “We only know how we managed to reach Siliguri safely. We had a harrowing experience and we will never come back here,” said Gargi Adhikary, who had to cut short her trip to Darjeeling by five days. The stranded tourists were highly inconvenienced as most of the hotels, restaurants, eateries remained shut and there was hardly any bus or vehicle.

“We are waiting for a bus since 5:30am but none is available to take us to Siliguri,” another tourist, Aninda Bhaduri said. Several foreigners, who camp in the hills during this season, to enjoy trekking, have left.