Security personnel at the site of the Pahalgam terror attack.
Credit: PTI Photo
Thiruvananthapuram: Death of Kochi native N Ramachandran, 65, in the Pahalgam terror strike is not a loss just for his family and relatives but for the local people of his native place Mangat in Edappally in Kochi as he was a socially active person.
Ramachandran, who is an ex-NRI, has been very active in the locality after he retired from his job in Abu Dhabi.
He was an office bearer of the local residents' association and had also contested in the local body election in the 1990s as a BJP candidate.
Ramachandran's elderly neighbor Annamma recollects that it was Ramachandran who took her to hospital while she suffered a fracture. His relatives and neighbours also recollect that Ramchandran used to be actively involved in all functions in the locality.
Ramachandran's body was brought to Kochi by Wednesday night and funeral is scheduled for Friday.
Ramachandran had gone to Kashmir with wife Sheela, daughter Aarathi and grandchildren on Monday morning via Hyderabad. His son Aravind is working in Hyderabad.
Ramachandran's daughter had informed their relatives in Kochi about his death on Tuesday evening. Ramachandran was shot in front of his daughter.
A relative told reporters in Kochi that Aarathi and Ramachandran only went to Baisaran Valley. The terrorist shot Ramachandran after asking his identity.
Apart from the three judges of Kerala High Court, scores of Malayalis also had narrow escape. Kannur native Lavanya, who was part of a 11 member family group touring in Kashmir, told the media that they were on the way to Pahalgam while the terror strike took place.
"We took a break of nearly one hour on the way to have food. Hence we were not at Pahalgam when the terror strike happened. As we reached Pahalgam we could see vehicles with panicked tourists desperately returning," she told a section of media.
Noted singer G Venugopal said in a social media post that he along with his family members visited Pahalgam hardly three days back. He also said that he had some personal experience that enhanced his respect towards the ordinary people of the region. Venugopal also expressed concerns whether such 'dastardly act' would affect Kashmir's tourism potential.