Om Jaiswal
The natural scavengers, vultures, are on the brink of extinction in India, creating a serious environmental imbalance. However, an even graver concern has emerged—the rise of a metaphorical new species that thrives on human misery. Their mantra, “Aapda Mein Avsar,” is about turning disaster into an opportunity for profit.
The recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, claimed the lives of 28 innocent tourists and locals. Despite the tragedy, the people of Kashmir, including tour operators, united in support of the visitors. Tourism, the backbone of the region’s economy, faced a severe blow, yet the locals displayed remarkable humanity. One Kashmiri even sacrificed his life protecting tourists. Their compassion and condemnation of the attack earned widespread praise across the country. Survivors of the attack also expressed gratitude for the care and concern shown by the locals.
But what followed at Srinagar airport was far from humane. Panic-stricken tourists, desperate to flee, were met with exorbitant airfares. Reports revealed fares skyrocketing to over ₹55,000 for flights from Srinagar to Delhi and other cities. For airlines, it was a golden opportunity to exploit the crisis and rake in profits. Of course, after a massive public outcry and intervention from the government the surge pricing was withdrawn.
The plight of fleeing tourists in Kashmir resonates deeply with the residents of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, who have long endured exorbitant airfares. “It’s nothing new for us,” remarked several residents of Kalapani. For decades, islanders have been forced to pay sky-high fares, with no alternative options.
Many islanders have family ties to mainland India, necessitating frequent travel. Students, patients, and businesspeople are among those compelled to pay whatever the airlines demand, regardless of affordability.
Local Member of Parliament Bishnu Pada Ray has consistently raised concerns about the high airfares on the Island-mainland sector. Despite his efforts, his appeals have largely fallen on deaf ears. The government’s response has been limited to feeble requests for airlines to “kindly consider” fare reductions.
Private airlines, with no government-operated competitors, have dismissed these requests as inconsequential. For them, profit reigns supreme. Having invested heavily in their operations, they seem determined to extract their pound of flesh, regardless of the consequences for the public.
(The author is Editor-in-Chief of The Wave Andaman )
