Pahalgam: Terrorists opened fire at a famed meadow near Kashmir’s Pahalgam town on Tuesday afternoon, killing 26 people, mostly tourists, in what is the deadliest attack in the Valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019.
The 26 dead included two foreigners and two locals, a high ranking official said without getting into details. The toll is still being ascertained, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said while describing the terror attack as “much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years”.
The attack, which comes as US Vice President J D Vance is visiting India and just as the tourist and trekking season is picking up momentum, took place around 3 pm, officials said.
Baisaran, about six kilometres from the resort town of Pahalgam, is an expansive meadow ringed by dense pine forests and mountains and a favourite with visitors from across the country and the world.
Armed terrorists came into the grassland, dubbed ‘mini Switzerland’, and started firing at tourists milling around eateries, taking pony rides or just picnicking, officials and eyewitnesses said. At least 20 people were injured in the strike in the volatile Kashmir Valley where tourists have so far mostly been spared.
As news of the terror attack targeting tourists in Kashmir spread, The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group, claimed responsibility.
Officials said it was possible the terror group could have crossed over from Kishtwar in Jammu and reached Baisaran through Kokernag in south Kashmir.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a visit to Saudi Arabia, and left for Srinagar soon after to hold an urgent security review meeting with all agencies.
Eyewitnesses painted a chilling picture of gunfire breaking the calm of a regular Tuesday afternoon with scores of people enjoying their day out. Cries for help were heard as lifeless bodies lay motionless in pools of blood.
Some put the number of attackers at five.
“My husband was shot in the head while seven others were also injured in the attack,” a woman survivor told PTI over phone.
The woman did not identify herself but pleaded for help in evacuating the injured to hospital.
As gunshots rang out, there was panic and tourists ran for cover but there was no place to hide in the wide, open space, said another woman tourist.
A woman said terrorists first asked the name before shooting down the victims. The tourists gathered at Baisaran were from several states, including Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Among those killed was Karnataka businessman Manjunath Rao, who was from Shivamogga.
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah condoled the death and called a meeting of officials. A team of officials from Karnataka left for Kashmir, an official statement said.
With Baisaran accessible only by foot or horses, choppers were deployed to evacuate the injured. The families of those killed and injured were taken to the government-owned Pahalgam Club under tight security.
The entire district administration and police force was mobilised and ambulances pressed into service.
Some of the injured were brought down from the meadow by local people on their ponies.
Army, CRPF and local police rushed to Baisaran, much sought after by filmmakers in the 1980s, after initial news came in of gunshots being heard, officials said.
A massive anti-terrorist operation has been launched to hunt down the assailants and security forces have fanned out in all directions, they said.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has set up 24X7 emergency control rooms in Anantnag and Srinagar.
Altaf Ahmad Wani, National Conference MLA from Pahalgam, described the attack as “cowardly” and said targeting innocent persons is against the teachings of Islam.
“The attack was very painful and unfortunate and took place at an unexpected location which is about five kilometers from Pahalgam (bus stand). It is used for trekking and the people go there on horses,” he told reporters.
Pahalgam town, which was teeming with tourists this morning, went into complete silence. Tourists began leaving in droves.
The incident comes when Kashmir is witnessing a surge in tourist arrivals after reeling under militancy for years.
On February 14, 2019, 40 CRPF personnel were killed in a suicide attack in south Kashmir’s Pulwama area. Since then, there have been other terror attacks but none as serious. More than 30 people were killed in an attack on Amarnath base camp in Pahalgam in 2000.
A year later, 13 people died in a strike on Amarnath pilgrims at Sheshnag while 11 persons were killed in another attack in 2002 in the Pahalgam area.
A tourist couple from Rajasthan was injured in a firing incident by terrorists at Yannar in Pahalgam in May last year.
Govt sets up emergency helpline for tourists
Jammu and Kashmir government on Tuesday set up a round-the-clock emergency helpline to assist tourists in the wake of the Pahalgam terrorist attack.
“A 24×7 emergency help desk has been established by Anantnag district administration for tourists requiring assistance or information. Tourists can contact 01932222337, 7780885759, 9697982527 or 6006365245 for information or assistance,” an official spokesperson said.
He said an emergency control room has been established in Srinagar as well.
Tourists can contact 01942457543, 01942483651 or 7006058623 for assistance on the Pahalgam terror incident, he said.
Prez Murmu, PM Modi, HM Amit Shah, Rajnath, Rahul, EAM condemn Pahalgam attack
President of India Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and several other top leaders of the country condemned the terror attack in Pahalgam on Tuesday.
President Droupadi Murmu said that the terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam of Jammu and Kashmir is shocking and painful.
“It is a dastardly and inhuman act which must be condemned unequivocally. Attacking innocent citizens, in this case tourists, is utterly appalling and unpardonable. My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their dear ones and my prayers for the quick recovery of the injured,” President of India said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a post on X, condemned the attack and said that those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice and will not be spared.
“I strongly condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected. Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice…they will not be spared! Their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will get even stronger,” Narendra Modi wrote.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah also expressed anguish over the attack and said that those involved in this dastardly act of terror will not be spared.
“Anguished by the terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. My thoughts are with the family members of the deceased. Those involved in this dastardly act of terror will not be spared, and we will come down heavily on the perpetrators with the harshest consequences. Briefed PM Shri @narendramodi Ji about the incident and held a meeting with the concerned officials via video conferencing. Will shortly leave for Srinagar to hold an urgent security review meeting with all the agencies,” the Union HM wrote.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in a post said that this dastardly attack on innocent civilians is an act of cowardice and highly reprehensible
“Deeply anguished by the news of terrorist attack in Pahalgam (Jammu & Kashmir). This dastardly attack on innocent civilians is an act of cowardice and highly reprehensible. My thoughts and prayers are with the innocent victims and their families,” Rajnath wrote.
In a post, Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and senior Congress leader, Rahul Gandhi said that the attack on tourists in Pahalgam is condemnable and shocking. He expressed sympathies with the victim families and also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
The whole nation stands united against the terrorism. The government instead of claiming normalcy in Jammu and Kashmir should take stringent measures to act tough against the perpetrators so that no such attack takes place in future, he added.
