An order in this regard issued by Additional Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal Farooq Ahmed Baba said that a large number of local tourists are thronging Sonamarg especially on the weekends, which poses danger of resurgence of COVID-19 pandemic in view of possible violation of COVID appropriate behavior.

The ADC Ganderbal while invoking section 144 of the CPC 1973, Disaster Management Act, 2005 and Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 ordered that On 17-18 and 24-25 July, 2021 only those visitors who possess proof of confirmed hotel bookings at Sonamarg shall be allowed to proceed towards the tourist destination.

No day picnickers shall be allowed to visit Sonamarg on the above mentioned dates, the ADC directed.

SDPO Kangan and Dy SP Traffic Ganderbal have been directed to establish checkpoints at Kangan, Gund and Gagengeer as to allow only Kargil bound travelers and bonafide visitors with proof of advance hotel bookings to move towards Sonamarg.

Tourist destination Pahalgam in south Kashmir was also closed for day picnickers by district administration Anantnag on June 30 in in view of a heavy rush of picnickers posing a risk of COVID-19 resurgence.