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An ordeal for tourists

BERHAMPUR: Tourism prospects of Kandhamal district have suffered a setback, thanks to the recent communal violence.

At the crux of tourism potential was Daringbadi, which was also witness to violence. It is the only place in the State where snowfall occurs during winter. But the flare-up turned the situation hot this winter. The place had been under curfew since December 26. The worst sufferers were stranded tourists from other parts of the State. Though tourists were aware of what was in store, there was not escape route for them because of the bandh called by the VHP, which was followed by the 36-hour blockade announced by the tribal organisation Kui Samaj.

The tourists to the hill station, known as Kashmir of Orissa, had to go without food for days together. Bipin Kumar Mohapatra from Bhubaneswar arrived at Daringbadi before Christmas. He was stranded at the guest house of the Orissa Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) for six days as he could not find a vehicle for his return journey.

Residents of Daringbadi like Kaliprasad Mishra say normalcy might be restored in a few days but no tourist would ever dare visit the place or other tourist destinations in the State the remaining part of winter. “This will surely not augur well for the region,” he said.

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