Special Correspondent
Srinagar: A horrific terrorist attack struck the popular tourist destination of Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday afternoon, claiming the lives of over 27 tourists, according to initial reports. The terrorist group The Resistance Front (TRF) has claimed responsibility for the attack.
Among the victims were families from Karvenagar in Pune, specifically the Ganbote and Jagdale families, who were directly targeted. Santosh Jagdale and Kaustubh Ganbote sustained bullet injuries, with one reportedly hit by three bullets. Both families originally hail from Baramati taluka but currently reside near Vedant Nagar in Pune.
Two tourists from Maharashtra—Dilip Disale from Pune and Atul Mone from Mumbai—have been confirmed dead. Meanwhile, Manik Patil from Panvel and S. Bhalchandrarav were injured, though both are reported to be in stable condition.
Eyewitnesses described the attack as particularly brutal. The terrorists reportedly asked tourists for their names and religion before opening indiscriminate fire. The sound of gunfire caused widespread panic, and many people fled in fear. The injured were immediately rushed to hospitals in Anantnag and Srinagar, where they are currently receiving treatment.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently on an official visit to Saudi Arabia, spoke with Union Home Minister Amit Shah over the phone and directed him to take swift action. Amit Shah has since left for Jammu and Kashmir to assess the situation on the ground.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis strongly condemned the attack, offering condolences to the families of the deceased and praying for the swift recovery of the injured. “We are in touch with senior officials from the Jammu and Kashmir administration. I also personally spoke to Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri to get detailed updates,” Fadnavis said.
According to official information, the search and security operations have been launched in the region. Initial findings suggest that the deceased tourists include people from Surat (Gujarat), Haryana, and Delhi, in addition to those from Maharashtra.
