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A year after Pahalgam terror attack: What is the QR code system for Jammu and Kashmir’s tourist service providers? How does it protect travellers and locals? News18 explains
Jammu and Kashmir’s tourist service providers show the QR codes. (ANI)
Among the many changes after the 2025 Pahalgam attack was the introduction of a QR code system for all tourism service providers.
A year after the attack, a look at what the QR code system is. How does it protect travellers and locals? News18 explains.
The Pahalgam terror attack
The Pahalgam attack was a major terrorist incident that occurred on April 22, 2025, in the Baisaran Valley, often called ‘Mini Switzerland’, near Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. It resulted in of 26 deaths, including 25 tourists and one local resident. The attack is considered the deadliest assault on civilians in India since the 2008 Mumbai attacks. Assailants wearing military-style uniforms entered the Baisaran meadow and began a targeted mass shooting. They reportedly separated men from women and children, verified their religious identities, and shot victims at close range.
Most of the deceased were tourists from various Indian states, including newlywed couples. One local Muslim pony-ride operator, Syed Adil Hussain Shah, was killed while heroically attempting to protect tourists and wrestle a weapon from an attacker. Part of the attack was inadvertently captured on video by a tourist who was ziplining above the meadow as the shooting began below.
The Resistance Front (TRF), widely identified as a proxy for the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), initially claimed responsibility for the attack. They stated the motive was opposition to “non-local settlement” in the region following the 2019 revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
TRF later attempted to retract its claim, but Indian and international intelligence agencies maintain the group’s involvement.
The aftermath of Pahalgam
The brutal attack by Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists led to an exodus of tourists from Jammu and Kashmir and the authorities had to close around 50 tourist destinations and reopened some of them in a phased manner after a security audit. Almost a year after the Pahalgam attack, Baisaran Valley is again buzzing with tourists, and the number of tourists coming to see ‘Mini Switzerland’ located in Anantnag district is increasing.
Many new measures have been implemented to ensure the safety of tourists in Pahalgam Resort. These include pre-verification of service providers and vendors, including pony vendors, before contacting visitors, and a QR code-based identification system.
The QR code-based identification system
In April 2026, Jammu and Kashmir authorities introduced a QR code-based identification system for all tourism service providers in Pahalgam. This digital initiative aims to enhance tourist safety and rebuild visitor confidence following a security incident in April 2025.
Officials said, “Each service provider is being duly checked by the police, the officials have registered them and they have been provided with a unique QR code in which personal information and other details about that person are recorded.”
He told that tourists can get complete information about the concerned person by scanning the code with their mobile phone.
Purpose and Key Benefits
- Ensures that only police-vetted and registered individuals operate in tourist areas.
- Tourists can use smartphones to scan codes and verify the authenticity of service providers.
- Helps curb overcharging and unauthorised vendors claiming tourism associations.
- Local operators welcome the system as it protects their livelihoods from unregulated outside interference.
What the QR code contains
When scanned, the QR code provides complete information about the registered individual:
Personal Details: Full name, parentage, and detailed address.
Identification: Linked Aadhaar number and mobile number.
Operational Info: Official registration number and designated operational route.
Verification Status: Confirmation that the individual has passed a police background check.
Implementation
Includes pony-ride operators, photographers, hawkers, business owners, and outside vendors. The system aims to cover approximately 25,000 individuals, with over 7,000 QR codes already issued as of late April 2026.
Providers must submit verification forms for thorough background checks; even minor criminal records can lead to disqualification. Authorities have identified 17–18 “vulnerable points” and popular sites where enforcement is strictly monitored.
Major Locations Affected
The system is rigorously enforced at key tourist attractions around Pahalgam to ensure a secure environment for visitors.
KEY FAQs
What is the QR system?
Each tourist/vehicle gets a unique QR code linked to ID and itinerary.
How does it improve safety?
Security can scan and verify instantly, track movement in sensitive zones, and flag anomalies in real time.
What’s the benefit for tourists?
Faster check-ins at checkpoints, better coordination during emergencies, and controlled access to high-risk areas.
With ANI, agency, News18 Hindi inputs
April 21, 2026, 12:19 IST
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