Srinager, Jul 23 (KNO): The picturesque tourist spot of Aru Valley in Pahalgam area of South Kashmir's Anantnag district thronged by tourists during summer season is craving for mobile network connectivity, thus limiting its real potential to be a new tourist hub in the Valley.
Located around 12 km from Pahalgam, famous for its scenic meadows, lakes and mountains, Aru is a base camp for trekking to the Kolhoi Glacier and Tarsar Lake. However, tourists and locals are aghast over lack of mobile connectivity in the area.
A group of tourists from outside Kashmir while talking with news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), said though they spent a day in Aru valley, they were completely disconnected from the rest of the world as the area is without mobile network coverage.
"I was very fond of visiting Aru valley but as soon as I got here, there was no mobile connectivity due to which we had to face trouble, "Aakash, a tourist from Delhi said, adding that the government must think about it because it is not far away from Pahalgam.
Locals said they are facing difficulties with each passing day without network connectivity.
"Today children are studying online from their mobile phones but no one thinks about the future of our children, "Irshad, a local shopkeeper said.
"All the tourists who come here have always complained about the lack of mobile network. Rest everything else is fine here,” he said.
Rameez, another local, said that they had to come down at least five kilometers to get mobile network coverage.
"Anyone who comes here complains that the area is without mobile connectivity and prefers to return soon which is having a profound effect on our business here," Ismail, a restaurant owner said.
Meanwhile, the locals as well as tourists appealed to the LG led administration to look into the matter so that more tourists will visit Aru Valley—(KNO)