Avinash Azad
Despite tall claims of boosting tourism in the Jammu region, the government’s support for the hotel industry appears virtually absent. Fortune Hotel—one of Jammu’s prominent hospitality landmarks—is finally set to reopen this week after remaining shut for nearly four months due to massive damage caused by the August flash flood.
The hotel suffered extensive losses when floodwaters from the swollen Tawi River breached the wall constructed along Maharaja Hari Singh Park. “It has been four months since the flash flood struck Jammu. After the wall collapsed, the water rushed into the hotel and severely damaged two floors,” said Chander Prakash Gupta, owner of Hotel Fortune. “Unfortunately, not a single official from any government department visited the property to assess the losses.”
Gupta said the hotel incurred over ₹3 crore in restoration expenses, yet received no relief or assistance. “Despite multiple schemes launched by the Union government for the tourism sector, hoteliers are getting nothing. Every scheme exists only on paper,” he added.
When contacted, Joint Director Tourism Jammu, Aijaz Qaiser, said the department is not authorised to provide compensation in such cases. “The damage was caused by a natural calamity. Handling such matters falls under the mandate of the district administration and the Revenue Department,” he stated.
Gupta said the insurance company, too, has been delaying the process. “Even after four months of losses, the insurance company has not settled the claims and is still stuck in paperwork,” he said. According to him, the financial hit extends beyond the physical damage.
“Business suffers further when companies delay claim payments. I managed the restoration on my own; if someone relies entirely on insurance, they cannot survive. There must be a fixed timeline for insurance firms so that affected businesses receive their dues promptly,” he added.
The Hidden News attempted to reach officials including the ACR Jammu and Deputy Commissioner Jammu, but none responded.
It is worth recalling that former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah once campaigned nationwide, urging travellers to visit Jammu and Kashmir, stressing tourism’s critical role in the region’s economy. Yet, as the hotel sector continues to struggle for basic support, industry stakeholders say the government’s promises ring hollow while their pleas go unheard.
After the 2019 reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir, the Lieutenant Governor functioned as the top authority in the Union Territory. Following the Assembly elections in October 2024, Omar Abdullah assumed office as Chief Minister, creating a dual power structure. With two centres of authority now in place, the development agenda appears to be pulled in opposite directions.
