Many feared dead in J&K's Pahalgam terror attack

Srinagar: At least one tourist was killed while multiple others are feared dead in a terrorist attack in J&K's Pahalgam on Tuesday.

The incident happened in the Baisaran Valley of Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination in the Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to local officials, two to three gunmen came in fatigues, fired indiscriminately on tourists who were enjoying a horse ride in Baisaran , a lush, high-altitude meadow located in Pahalgam. The remote area, known for its breathtaking views and proximity to the Amarnath Yatra base camp, is accessible only by foot or pony.

“We heard sudden gunshots, and people started screaming and running for cover,” said an eyewitness. “It all happened very quickly.”

One of the tourists, succumbed to his injuries while being shifted to a hospital, reports said. Authorities have not released the names of the injured, but sources confirmed that the death toll could increase as several injured remain in critical condition.

Injured being shifted to a hospital after terrorists attacked a group of tourists at Pahalgam

Immediately after the attack, security forces launched an extensive search operation in the forests surrounding Baisaran, reports said. Senior police and army officials, including those from counter-terror units, arrived at the scene and are overseeing the rescue and evacuation efforts.

Additional reinforcements have also been deployed to assist in tracking down the perpetrators. The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot, has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack.

The attack comes at a sensitive time, just around two months before the annual Amarnath Yatra is set to begin on July 3. The yatra draws thousands of pilgrims each year, and Pahalgam serves as one of the two base camps. The timing of the attack, amid the spring tourist season, is being viewed by officials as a deliberate attempt to destabilise Kashmir valley and instill fear among visitors.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and chief minister Omar Abdullah condemned the attack.

In a post on X, Sinha assured the people that those behind this despicable attack will not go unpunished.  “Spoke to the DGP & Security officials. Army and J&K Police teams have rushed to the area and launched search operations,” he said.

Omar Abdullah in a post on X said: “I’m shocked beyond belief. This attack on our visitors is an abomination. The perpetrators of this attack are animals, inhuman & worthy of contempt. No words of condemnation are enough. I send my sympathies to the families of the deceased.”

People's Democratic Party (PDP) president and former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti also condemned the terror attack. “I strongly condemn the cowardly attack on tourists in Pahalgam, which tragically killed one and injured several. Such violence is unacceptable and must be denounced," she posted on X.