Srinagar, April 22 – In a shocking incident that has rocked Jammu and Kashmir, a terrorist attack in the popular tourist destination of Pahalgam on Tuesday afternoon left several people feared dead and at least 20 others injured. The attack occurred around 3 PM when armed militants descended from a hilltop near Baisaran Valley, an area often referred to as "Mini Switzerland" due to its lush green meadows, and opened indiscriminate fire on tourists present there.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah confirmed the gravity of the situation, stating that the number of casualties was still being assessed. As per agency report, he expressed deep shock and condemned the attack as one of the most horrifying in recent years targeting civilians. He described the attackers as inhuman and said no words were sufficient to condemn such brutality. The Chief Minister, who was away from the capital, announced his immediate return to Srinagar and assured that official details would be shared as the situation becomes clearer.
This incident comes at a time when Kashmir has been witnessing a revival in tourism following years of militancy, with large numbers of tourists visiting the region. It also raises serious concerns about the upcoming 38-day Amarnath Yatra scheduled to commence on July 3.
Eyewitness accounts and preliminary reports suggest that the attackers emerged from the dense forest surrounding the Baisaran area, a location that was once a favorite among Bollywood filmmakers in the 1980s. Graphic footage from the scene showed people lying in pools of blood, while several women were seen weeping and searching for their loved ones. Though the authenticity of the video remains unverified, its circulation has added to the sense of panic.
Medical officials at the Pahalgam hospital reported that twelve injured tourists were admitted, all of whom were in stable condition. Some of the injured were transported by locals using ponies from the rugged terrain of the valley, while others were airlifted via helicopter dispatched to assist in rescue efforts.
Security forces, including the Indian Army, CRPF, and local police, have launched a massive anti-terror operation in and around Baisaran to locate and neutralize the attackers. According to senior police officials, troops have been deployed in all directions as part of a combing operation.
The attack has prompted immediate evacuations from the area. Tourists, who had filled the valley earlier in the day, quickly left the region following the assault, leaving the otherwise bustling resort deserted.
Pahalgam, and particularly Baisaran, remains one of Kashmir's most visited tourist locations, accessible from the town by pony rides through scenic trails overlooking the Lidder Valley. It also serves as one of the key routes for the annual Amarnath pilgrimage, with lakhs of devotees trekking from either the 48-kilometer traditional Pahalgam route in Anantnag district or the shorter 14-kilometer route via Baltal in Ganderbal district.
Authorities have not yet provided a confirmed number of fatalities, and the situation remains tense as search operations continue.
