26 people, mostly tourists, killed in Kashmir's Pahalgam

Pahalgam, J&K : In a horrifying terror attack on Tuesday afternoon, 26 people, mostly tourists, were killed and several others injured when terrorists opened fire at Baisaran, a popular tourist spot near Pahalgam in south Kashmir. This marks the deadliest civilian attack in the Valley since the Pulwama strike of 2019.
Among the deceased were two foreigners from the UAE and Nepal, two locals, and tourists from multiple Indian states including Karnataka, Maharashtra, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh. At least one person from Gujarat, three from Tamil Nadu, and two from Maharashtra were among the injured.
The attack occurred around 3 PM in Baisaran, also known as “Mini Switzerland,” a picturesque meadow surrounded by dense pine forests and towering mountains. It is accessible only by foot or on horseback, making evacuation efforts challenging. Eyewitnesses described a scene of chaos as gunmen dressed as security personnel opened fire on unsuspecting tourists enjoying the scenic location.
The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the banned Pakistan- based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the attack. Officials suspect the assailants may have infiltrated from Kishtwar and reached Baisaran through Kokernag.

Survivors recounted moments of sheer terror. Asavari Jagdale, whose father and uncle were shot during the assault, said they were targeted after her father was asked to recite an Islamic verse and failed. "They accused us of supporting Prime Minister Modi," she said, adding that she, her mother, and another female relative were spared. The fate of her father and uncle remains unknown.
Eyewitnesses said the open nature of the meadow offered no shelter as gunshots rang out, leading to panic and stampedes. Local residents and pony operators played a vital role in helping evacuate the injured.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia, condemned the attack and assured full support to the victims. “I strongly condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam... All possible assistance is being provided,” he said on social media platform X.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah flew to Srinagar to assess the situation, while leaders across the political spectrum, including Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, expressed shock and grief. “This is much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years,” Abdullah said. World leaders including US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed solidarity with India and condemned the attack.
In response to the incident, various organisations in Jammu and Kashmir called for a bandh on Wednesday. The Jammu and Kashmir administration has launched a massive anti-terror operation and set up 24x7 emergency control rooms in Anantnag and Srinagar.
Pahalgam, once bustling with tourists, fell silent as visitors began fleeing the region. Choppers were deployed for medical evacuation, and the injured were moved to safety under tight security at the government-owned Pahalgam Club.

Kerala CM Condemns Attack, Confirms One Victim from State
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan strongly condemned the attack and confirmed the death of one Kerala -native from Ernakulam. “Those behind this heinous act must be brought to justice,” he said. He assured that the deceased’s family would be safely brought back to Kerala.
He also said that Kerala High Court judges, Justices Anil K Narendran, P G Ajithkumar and G Girish, as well as MLAs M Mukesh, K P A Majeed, T Siddique and K Ansalan were in Srinagar, but safe. The CM said that the judges were expected to return to Kerala on Wednesday. Meanwhile, NORKA Roots, the field agency of the Department of Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA), which oversees matters related to Non-Resident Keralites (NRKs) has launched a help desk to provide assistance, services and information to Keralites, a statement from the Chief Minister's Office said. The help desk can be reached on 18004253939 (toll-free number) and 00918802012345 (missed call), it said.
This tragic incident echoes previous deadly attacks on civilians in the region, including the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing and strikes on Amarnath pilgrims in 2000, 2001, and 2002. In March 2000, during then-US President Bill Clinton’s India visit, 35 Sikhs were massacred in Chhattisinghpora in south Kashmir.