Jammu and Kashmir Pahalgam Terror Attack Highlights: Opposition gives ‘full support’ to govt during all-party meeting, ‘security lapses’ discussed

MLA Jagmohan Anand met the family of Indian Navy Officer, Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, who was killed in the Pahalgam terrorist attack. As per reports, Narwal had gone to Kashmir with his wife o vacation.

Manjunath Rao, a resident of Shivamogga, lost his life in the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam. According to his maternal uncle, Madhav Murthy, Manjunath had taken his family to Jammu and Kashmir to celebrate his son’s achievement — he had scored 98% in the second PU exams. The family was on a package tour for the past eight days. The attack happened while they were having panipuri. His wife and son were reportedly told by the terrorists to “go and tell this to Modi” before they spared them. Shivamogga’s MP, MLA, and RSS leaders are helping bring his body home.

Syed Hussain Shah, a resident of Anantnag was also killed in the Pahalgam terrorist attack. His mother while speaking to ANI broke down and said that her son was the only breadwinner of the family.

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#watch | J&K | Mother of the Anantnag resident Syed Hussain Shah, who lost his life in the #pahalgamterroristattack, gets emotional, says, "He was the only bread earner of the family..." pic.twitter.com/W7BgzeVOEC

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2025

All government and private schools in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir will stay closed on April 23 due to a bandh called by various local groups, according to the Chief Education Officer, ANI reported.

The shutdown follows widespread protests in Jammu, led by the J&K High Court Bar Association, Jammu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Bajrang Dal. Bajrang Dal leader Rakesh Bajrangi strongly condemned the terror attack, blaming intelligence failures and accusing Pakistan of targeting unarmed tourists after asking their names. Protests also broke out in Reasi, Kathua, Samba, and Udhampur, where locals burned tyres and schools, colleges, and traffic services were suspended.

Friends and neighbors of three men from Thane who were killed in the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, are deeply shocked and heartbroken, reported PTI. They said they are struggling to express their grief over the sudden loss. The victims—Hemant Joshi, Sanjay Lele (44), and Atul Mone (52)—were residents of different parts of Dombivli city in Maharashtra’s Thane district. They were among the 26 people who lost their lives when terrorists attacked the popular tourist spot in South Kashmir on Tuesday.

Visuals have been coming from Kashmir and you can see the valley has fallen silent. There is a collective call for Kashmir bandh. However, no such official confirmation is there.

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#watch | J&K | Visuals from Pulwama; a collective call for a bandh in strong condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack has been made #pahalgamterroristattack pic.twitter.com/wJRLlzLrS7

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2025

Family member of one of the tourists from Nagpur told ANI that they got the news of the terror attack from television and that’s when they got worried. “We are very worried, but got relief after seeing that they are alive. We are continuously trying to connect with them.,” the family member said.

There is a tight security arrangement outside Anantnag’s Government Medical College. Many of the injured and victims have been admitted to the hospital, where they were rushed straight from the terror attack site. As of now the reports suggest that the injured are in stable condition but further details are awaited.

A haunting video of army personnel consoling the survivors of he terrorist attack in going viral on social media. The last terror attack had happened in May 2024, also in Pahalgam, where two tourists were injured in a militant assault.

Watch the video here: Haunting video of Indian Army consoling terrified victims surfaces, ‘Won’t do anything, here to protect you’

Prime Minister Narendra Modi skipped the official dinner in Saudi Arabia and returned to India earlier than planned, government sources said. He was supposed to return on Wednesday night but came back early Wednesday morning after the terror attack in Pahalgam on Tuesday.

Earlier, the Prime Minister condemned the attack, offered condolences to the families who lost their loved ones, and wished a quick recovery for the injured. He said all necessary help is being given to those affected and promised that the people responsible for this terrible act will be punished. He added that such violence will never succeed and India’s fight against terrorism will only grow stronger.

Among those killed in the Pahalgam terror attack was a young Indian Navy officer who had just gotten married four days earlier and was on his honeymoon with his wife, reported ANI. Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, 26, from Karnal in Haryana, was visiting Pahalgam for the first time with his wife when he was shot and killed by terrorists.

His wife, still in shock, shared that they were simply eating bhelpuri when a gunman approached, asked about his religion, and then shot him. A neighbor, Naresh Bansal, said everyone was happy about the officer’s wedding which was in February. He added that the news of his sudden death has left the community heartbroken.

PM Modi seen holding a meeting with NSA Doval and Jaishankar

People across Jammu and Kashmir, from Baramulla to Srinagar and Kupwara to Poonch, held candlelight marches to show their solidarity and unity after the recent attack. In Khod village, located in the Akhoor area, locals also came out with candles to mourn the innocent lives lost and to stand against the violence that has once again affected their region.

Read More Here: Kashmiris unite to condemn Pahalgam attack, support shutdown

Search operation in Pahalgam is currently underway. As per news agency ANI, the security forces and rescue teams are carrying out a search operation for more survivors and victims. The bodies that have been found will be returned to the families after completing the official procedure in such cases.

According to multiple reports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting at the airport with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and the Foreign Secretary soon after landing in New Delhi. They discussed the situation following the terror attack in Pahalgam. The PM cut short his trip to Saudi Arabia and skipped an official dinner there to come back early.

Nepal PM KP Sharma Oli also took to X and gave his condolences to the victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. He said that Nepal stands “firmly with India & strongly condemn any & all acts of terrorism.” He further added that reports of Nepali national among the victims are being verified and that the authorities are in touch for any assistance.

A group of tourists who were scheduled to visit Pahalgam today, were seen leaving Kashmir and returning to Delhi. Sameer Bhardwaj, a tourist from Delhi told news agency ANI that they had been in Kashmir for the last three days. He said they had plans to visit Pahalgam but are now leaving for Delhi due to the current situation. “What happened here is very wrong. Such a thing has happened in Pahalgam for the first time,” Bhardwaj said.

New Zealand‘s Foreign Minister Winston Peters expressed strong condemnation of the terrorist attack in Kashmir. He offered heartfelt condolences to the victims, their families, and the people of India, and said that New Zealand stands in solidarity with India during this difficult time.

Watch as PM Modi lands in Delhi. He was captured getting off the plane. There is no official confirmation if he will travel to Kashmir, but the possibility seems dim due to safety reasons.

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#watch | Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrives in Delhi after cutting short his Saudi Arabia visit in view of the #pahalgamterroristattack in Kashmir

(Source - ANI/DD) pic.twitter.com/5WAk8kL0g5

— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2025

Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravishankar told ANI that this is the time for the whole world to come together and show the terrorists their place. “Not just enough to condemn this, there is a need for action,” he said. He added that innocent people were being targeted by “this inhuman behaviour” and it should be “done away with”.

After the terrorist attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Air India will run two extra flights from Srinagar on Wednesday to help people return safely. Air India and Air India Express are also offering free rescheduling and full refunds for flights to and from Srinagar until April 30. Many tourists have been stuck in the Kashmir Valley for over three days as the Jammu-Srinagar highway is closed due to damage from flash floods and landslides in Ramban, a report by The Indian Express said. Since the highway may remain shut for a few more days, flying is the only option. Airfares have risen sharply due to high demand.

Rahul Gandhi, leader of the Opposition, on Wednesday said that he had spoken with Home Minister Amit Shah, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and Congress‘ J&K unit president Tariq Karra to get updates on the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam, a PTI report said. Gandhi, who is currently visiting the US, said the families of the victims deserve justice and full support. Earlier, the Congress party had criticised the government for not taking responsibility for the attack. They said the government should stop making empty claims about peace in the region and called for an all-party meeting to keep all political parties informed.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has landed in Delhi after cutting short his Saudi Arabia visit. The PM was originally supposed to leave Saudi on Wednesday, but he left for India as soon as the news of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam broke. It is yet to be confirmed weather PM Modi will travel to Kashmir.

Survivors of the Pahalgam terror attack have explained to the police what happened during the terror attack. They said three to four men, wearing what looked like uniforms, came out of the forest and walked toward the group. The tourists thought they were police officers and answered when asked for their names. But suddenly, the men started shooting at the male tourists, leaving the women unharmed. Some were shot from very close, while others were killed as they tried to escape. One survivor said that after hearing the gunshots, they ran to nearby tents. But the attackers followed and shot another man after speaking with him. Police said the attackers stayed in the area for quite a while, calmly walking around and firing for nearly 20 minutes before leaving.

World leaders have been voicing their support for India and PM Modi after the deadly terror attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam. Prime Minister of Israel took to X (formerly Twitter) and said that he was “deeply saddened by the barbaric terrorist attack”. He addressed PM Modi as his dear friend and said his prayers were with the victims and their families. “Israel stands with India in its fight against terrorism,” he wrote.

MEA official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posts on ‘X’: “President Donald Trump called Prime Minister Modi and conveyed his deepest condolences at the loss of innocent lives in the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. President Trump strongly condemned the terror attack and expressed full support to India to bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous attack. India and the United States stand together in the fight against terror.”

In response to the tragic incident in Pahalgam on April 22, 2025, Air India Express is offering support to passengers with flights to and from Srinagar between April 23 and 30, 2025. Passengers can cancel their bookings for a full refund, reschedule at no extra cost within 7 days of the original travel date, or change flights beyond 7 days with waived change fees, though fare differences may apply.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says, “The President has been briefed by the National Security Advisor and he’s being kept up to speed as more facts are learned. What we know already is that dozens were killed and even more were injured in a brutal terrorist attack in a popular tourist location in South Kashmir. President Trump will be speaking with Prime Minister Modi as soon as he possibly can to express his heartfelt condolences for those lost, and our prayers are with those injured, and our nation’s support for our ally India. These types of horrific events by terrorists are why those of us who work for peace and stability in the world continue our mission…”

Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Suhel Ajaz Khan says, “The recent terror attack in Kashmir was discussed, and his royal Highness, the Crown Prince, condemned the terror attack and offered any help to India in this regard. India and Saudi Arabia have cooperation in issues related to terrorism, and we continue to work together.”

CMO Maharashtra tweets, “Santosh Jagdale from Pune sustained bullet injuries in the cowardly terrorist attack in Kashmir and is currently undergoing treatment. It has also been reported that his wife was injured. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis spoke to their family members in Pune over the phone and assured them of all possible assistance from the state government”