Srinagar, Aug. 14 -- Call it fallout of the putrefied meat scandal, Kashmir's restaurant industry has taken a huge hit with all facilities witnessing almost zero customers.

President of the Restaurant Association of Kashmir (RAK), Sheikh Feroz, said almost the entire sector has been hit hard by the scandal, which has eroded consumer trust across the board.

"Most restaurants are in a struggling situation. This is very unfortunate, and even the establishments that have maintained quality for years are now suffering. Right now, the situation is such that almost 100 percent of restaurants are affected," Feroz told The Kashmir Monitor.

Feroz said the incident has created a "trust deficit" among diners, with many avoiding eating out altogeth...