Baisaran, Pahalgam | In what has been described as the deadliest terror attack in Kashmir since the 2019 Pulwama bombing, 26 people—mostly tourists—were gunned down in cold blood by suspected militants in the picturesque meadows of Baisaran, near the tourist hub of Pahalgam, on Tuesday afternoon.
The horrifying assault, which also left over 20 injured, has shaken the Valley, the nation, and the global community alike.
The attack unfolded around 3 p.m. as visitors—families, trekkers, and couples—strolled, picnicked, and rode ponies through the scenic alpine meadows popularly known as “mini Switzerland”.
Eyewitnesses recounted chaos and carnage as a group of armed terrorists stormed the area and indiscriminately opened fire, targeting civilians in the open, defenceless landscape.
Among the 26 confirmed dead were two foreign nationals and two locals, according to senior officials.
The identities of the deceased are being verified, and the death toll may rise as critically injured victims are being airlifted to medical facilities in Srinagar. Choppers were deployed due to the remote terrain, accessible only by foot or horseback.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the attack as “much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years”.
In a statement on social media, he expressed his deep shock and condemned the perpetrators as “inhuman” and “worthy of contempt”.
The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group believed to be affiliated with the banned Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), claimed responsibility for the massacre.
Security officials suspect the militants may have infiltrated through the Kishtwar region in Jammu and reached Baisaran via Kokernag in south Kashmir.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who immediately briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi—currently on an official visit to Saudi Arabia—rushed to Srinagar to assess the situation.
“Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice… they will not be spared! Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable,” the Prime Minister said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
The Prime Minister’s Office, along with the Union Home Ministry and the Jammu and Kashmir administration, activated emergency response mechanisms.
The entire Anantnag district, which includes Pahalgam, has been placed under high alert, and a massive manhunt is underway to track down the assailants. The Army, CRPF, and local police are involved in joint search operations across the valley.
Among the victims was Manjunath Rao, a businessman from Shivamogga, Karnataka.
State Chief Minister Siddaramaiah offered condolences and dispatched a team of officials to coordinate with Jammu and Kashmir authorities.
Victims hailed from several Indian states including Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Karnataka.
Grieving families and traumatised survivors were temporarily accommodated at the government-owned Pahalgam Club under heavy security.
Some of the wounded were brought down from the remote meadow by locals using ponies, displaying heroic acts of compassion amidst the violence.
Several survivors recalled the horror vividly. “My husband was shot in the head,” said one woman over the phone to PTI, requesting urgent help to evacuate the injured.
Another tourist described how gunmen asked victims their names before opening fire. Panic ensued as people tried to flee, but the wide-open grassland offered little shelter.
The attack coincides with a surge in tourist footfall to Kashmir—a region striving to rebuild its image as a safe haven for travelers after decades of insurgency.
Pahalgam, once a bustling symbol of revival, now stands eerily silent, with tourists fleeing the area in droves.
Baisaran, a serene plateau about six kilometers from Pahalgam, serves as a basecamp for trekkers en route to the Tulian Lake and offers sweeping views of the Lidder Valley.
Its popularity among filmmakers and honeymooners alike has made it a symbol of Kashmir’s natural beauty—now stained by bloodshed.
The region has a tragic history of attacks on tourists and pilgrims. In 2000, over 30 people were killed in an assault on the Amarnath Yatra base camp in Pahalgam. In 2002, 11 more were killed in a similar attack.
The 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing that killed 40 CRPF personnel remains etched in national memory, but Tuesday’s massacre marks the most significant targeting of civilians in recent years.
Reactions poured in from political and religious leaders. National Conference MLA Altaf Ahmad Wani condemned the attack as “cowardly” and against the teachings of Islam.
“It is deeply painful. Innocent lives, including women and children, have been lost in an act of pure evil,” he told reporters.
The Office of Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha echoed the national outrage. “The entire nation is angry & the blood of our forces is boiling. The perpetrators will pay a heavy price for this heinous act,” it said in a statement.
Meanwhile, 24×7 emergency control rooms have been established in Anantnag and Srinagar to assist victims’ families and provide verified information.
As the nation mourns, authorities vow not only to bring justice but to ensure that such terror does not deter Kashmir’s fragile return to peace and prosperity.
The attack serves as a grim reminder of the volatility that still grips the region and the enduring threat posed by cross-border militancy.
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