In one of the most horrific terror attacks witnessed in India in recent memory, 26 people including 25 tourists and a local resident were gunned down near Pahalgam, a scenic tourist spot in Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday evening, April 22, 2025. This marks the deadliest attack on civilians in India since the 26/11 Mumbai attacks in 2008.
The Attack: A Meadow Turns Into a Massacre Site
According to official sources and eyewitness accounts, the attack occurred around 5:45 PM when several tourist groups were returning from Aru and Betaab Valley, both popular destinations near Pahalgam. The heavily armed terrorists ambushed tourists at a meadow, firing indiscriminately at the buses and cars.
“We heard bursts of automatic gunfire. There was panic, screaming. Some of us hid behind rocks and trees,” said a survivor, visibly shaken.
The assailants reportedly used AK-series rifles and may have had prior intelligence on tourist movement in the area. The gunfire lasted for nearly 10 minutes, leaving the meadows soaked in blood.
Casualties and Injuries
The attack claimed the lives of 25 tourists from various states, including Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Delhi, and one local resident who was driving a group. More than 20 others have been injured, several critically, with hospitals in Anantnag and Srinagar on emergency alert.
Authorities fear the death toll may rise, given the severity of injuries.
Government’s Swift Response: Modi Returns, Shah Visits Pahalgam
Reacting with urgency, Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia. Modi had just landed in Jeddah hours before the attack when he was informed of the tragedy. The Prime Minister is expected back in New Delhi by early Wednesday morning.
In a strong statement issued from Jeddah, Modi condemned the “barbaric, cowardly act” and vowed that “those responsible will not be spared.”
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah rushed to Jammu and Kashmir, landing in Srinagar late Tuesday night. He visited the attack site early Wednesday and is scheduled to meet families of the victims and top security officials. Shah also held emergency meetings with the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and army commanders.
“The pain is unbearable. We will not rest till the perpetrators of this heinous crime are neutralized,” Shah told reporters.
Nation in Mourning, Security on High Alert
Across the country, people expressed shock, grief, and anger. Candlelight vigils were held in several cities, including Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Bengaluru. Leaders across party lines have condemned the attack and expressed solidarity with the victims.
The entire Kashmir Valley has been placed on high alert, with drone surveillance and additional deployments of CRPF and Army units in vulnerable zones. A massive search operation has been launched to track down the militants, believed to be part of a Pakistan-based terror module.
Context: Pahalgam’s History of Peace Shattered
Pahalgam, often referred to as the “Valley of Shepherds,” has largely remained peaceful in recent years, with tourists flocking in large numbers post-pandemic. This brutal attack shatters the image of Kashmir as a safe destination just as the Union Territory was seeing a revival in tourism.
Security experts suggest that the attackers aimed to target India’s growing tourism and international image, especially amid improving foreign relations and investments in Kashmir.
A Call for Unity and Resilience
This unprovoked act of terror has once again tested the nation’s resolve. As families grieve and the country mourns the loss of innocent lives, the focus now shifts to ensuring justice, healing, and strengthening the nation’s security.
The incident also reignites the debate over border security, counter-terrorism intelligence, and rehabilitation of disturbed regions.
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