Deserted Dal Lake

The vast expanse of Dal lake, Srinagar, India, on 26 october 2019, which used to remain abuzz with tourists from across the country and elsewhere, mainly during summer months, these days gives a deserted look from Dalgate along the Boulevard with empty hotels and houseboats. A thin traffic of private vehicles plies on the Boulevard like any other roads in the civil lines area of the city, while most parts of interior downtown continues to reel under restrictions. Shikaras to ferry tourists around the lake and to and fro the houseboats are lined up at the designated ghats without any customers. With shops and dhabas closed there are no takers for snacks, pizzas, junk food on the road—- no smell of fried food and snacks around, but only water smelling of stagnant water mixed with the rotting smell of excavated weeds piled up on the banks. Ever since the Indian government revoked the region's special status on August 5, imposed a communication blockade and precipitated fears of a settler-colonial project, the world's most militarised zone has been internationalised in an unprecedented way.