DEHRADUN, June 25, 2013: Tourism has been worst hit in flood-ravaged Uttarakhand, with pilgrims fleeing the disaster-struck state and tourists cancelling their bookings.

May and June are considered peak season for tourism in the state with hotels registering 100 per cent occupancy, but now, most wear a deserted look and several have also been washed away in the floods. 

"Every year, 23 to 24 lakh pilgrims arrive in the state for the Char Dham Yatra -- Badrinath, Kedarnath, Gangotri and Yamunotri. The disaster has hit tourism badly. 

"If we consider government figures, thousands of hotels, inns and residential houses have been severely affected by the flood and hundreds among them have been obliterated," Joint Director, state Tourism Department, A K Dwiwedi said. 

State Tourism Minister Amrita Rawat, said, "The disaster has affected tourism in the state badly and it will take a long time to assess the damage caused thereby." 

The natural calamity has temporarily forced closure of the annual 'Char Dham Yatra', considered the backbone of Garhwal economy. 

Some hotels in worse-hit areas like Rudraprayag, Chamoli and Uttarkashi districts have been completely swept away in the deluge. 

Tour operators claim that due to the tragedy brought about by torrential rains last week, business in this sector in cities like Mussoorie and Nainital has come down by 20 to 30 per cent.

Source: The Economic Times, DT. June 25, 2013.