Tragedy struck Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir today as a devastating terrorist attack claimed the lives of at least 26 people and left many others injured. Heart-wrenching scenes unfolded as families, overwhelmed with grief, cried out for help while holding the bloodied bodies of their loved ones.
The incident occurred at around 3 pm when unidentified gunmen opened fire at a crowded marketplace near Lidder River. Eyewitnesses said there was chaos everywhere—children were screaming, elderly people fell to the ground, and tourists ran for safety. Gunshots echoed through the hills.
According to the reports, at least 26 people have died and multiple left injured and inn critical condition. Emergencies services like Ambulances, medical kit took time to arrive because of the narrow roads, so local people helped by taking the injured in cars and even on makeshift stretchers.
#WATCH | Terrorists attack tourists in Pahalgam | Omar, a local, says, "We are in distress right now… We have suffered losses. It is a loss for everyone. We are very sad for the people who lost their lives, were are also distressed, our guests are also distressed. This should… pic.twitter.com/sMadYybwbr
— ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2025
Among the dead was 8-year-old Ruhan, whose mother, bloodstained and broken, cried out for help. “I told him we’d go see snow,” she sobbed, holding his still hand.
Security forces cordoned off the area and launched a massive manhunt. No group has yet claimed responsibility. Home Minister issued a statement condemning the “cowardly act” and assured strict action.
Survivors and families of victims have shared their heart-wrenching accounts:
One survivor, a woman from Karnataka, spoke to the news agency and shared her pain, saying through tears, ‘My husband was shot in the head and killed simply because he wasn’t a Muslim. They asked his religion, pulled down his trousers to confirm he was Hindu, and then shot him dead.’
Pallavi Rao, who had been visiting Kashmir with her husband Manjunath Rao and their young child, recalled the tragic moment. “We arrived on April 19, excited to see the beautiful place. My son was hungry, so Manjunath went to buy him some snacks. That’s when we heard the gunshots,” she said.
Another woman survivor, who witnessed the attack, spoke about the horrifying moments. “We were sitting and having bhelpuri when suddenly, he shot my husband,” she recalled. She went on to explain that the gunman had singled out her husband for not being Muslim before opening fire.
These heart-wrenching accounts are just a few of the many shared by survivors, all of whom are struggling to come to terms with the attack that shattered their lives.