Fresh snow blankets Pir Panchal mountains, pushing crows to seek food downhill near Doodhpathri, Kashmir. But unlike usual bustling tourist times, Doodhpathri is eerily silent. The hill station in Budgam district, just 43 km from Srinagar, closed after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26. This shutdown affects thousands relying on tourism. Rafiqa Jan, a tea stall owner, shares her tough reality: "All our plans, from weddings to home renovations, have been ruined." Jan and 200 women gained financial freedom setting up tea stalls here as tourists flocked. Now, with the place closed, her hopes to repay a ₹60,000 loan for her son's medical college fees dim. Although 28 out of 48 closed tourist spots reopened by September—including Pahalgam, Gulmarg, and Sonamarg—Doodhpathri remains shut pending a security audit. Locals like Bashir Ahmad, who invested ₹5.5 lakh in an all-terrain vehicle for tourist rides, struggle to meet EMI payments. The Doodhpathri Development Authority says 80% of Raiyar’s 400 families depend on tourism. The drop in visitors—from 18 lakh in 2024 to just 1.25 lakh this year so far—has shattered hopes and incomes. Nearby Aharbal waterfall and other spots face similar woes. Tourism expert Farooq Kuthoo notes Kashmir saw a 52% fall in tourists after the attack. The closures hamper longer stays and off-beat destination visits, hitting businesses hard, including hotels and travel agents, many of whom have cut staff. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah criticizes the prolonged closures, urging reopening to protect livelihoods and the tourism image. Meanwhile, locals pray for a quick restart. Jan says, "I pray five times a day that the destination be re-opened soon and we start earning again."