Meet the heroes who showed their colours during Pahalgam terror attack

A pony 'wallah' who laid down his life trying to save visitors to his homeland, a guide who rescued a family of 11, and countless locals are among those who added another dimension to Kashmir’s hospitality when terror struck Pahalgam on a calm Tuesday afternoon.

In what is the deadliest attack in the Valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019, terrorists opened fire in Baisaran, a popular tourist spot in the upper reaches of Pahalgam in Kashmir, killing 26 people, mostly holidayers from other states.

As tourists and families of victims from across the country reached home from Kashmir and outrage spread, stories of locals helping those who were stuck in the terrifying ordeal flooded in.

Syed Adil Hussain Shah

When the initial list of victims was made public, Syed Adil Hussain Shah’s was the only name of a local. The story of his bravery made thousands, including Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah, attend his funeral on Wednesday in Pahalgam’s Hapatnard village.

As the families of tourists Kaustubh Ganbote and Santosh Jagdale, two of the victims, stood face to face with the armed terrorists, the 30-year-old pony 'wallah' confronted them, asking why they were killing innocent people.

In a courageous attempt to protect the tourists, the young man tried to snatch away the weapon. Shah succumbed to three bullets to the chest.

Nazakat Ahmed Shah

Nazakat Ahmed Shah, a cousin of Shah, was also at the venue of the massacre and was instrumental in saving the lives of 11 tourists, including three children.

The 28-year-old had taken four couples and three children to Baisaran on the last leg of their Kashmir trip. Just before the group was about to leave the location, the sound of gunfire alerted Nazakat who fell to the ground with two of the children.

"My first concern was the safety of the tourist families. I took Lucky's kid and another child and lay down on the ground. The area was fenced so it was not easy to escape. I noticed a small opening and asked the families to move out through that opening. They asked me to save the children first. I slipped through it with the two kids, and ran towards Pahalgam town," Nazakat said.

After depositing the children in a safe place, he returned to the spot and escorted the others out safely. "Thanks to Allah, I took all our 11 guests safely to Pahalgam," he said.

The story of Nazakat’s selfless act came out when Arvind Agrawal, one of the tourists, posted pictures of him and his daughter with Shah on his social media handle.,

"You saved our lives by risking your own, we will never be able to repay the debt of Nazakat Bhai," he wrote.

Screengrab of video showing Sajad Ahmad Bhat.  

An indelible face of compassion, above all else, was tourist guide Sajad Ahmad Bhat. Videos of him scurrying down the mountainside with a child on his back were circulated widely and many wanted to know who this brave, helpful man was.

“Humanity above all… this is the murder of humanity,” Bhat told PTI Videos. When he reached the meadow, many were crying for help.

"We carried the injured on our ponies and took them to the Pahalgam hospital. We took at least 18-20 injured on ponies. There were two-three other men who carried people on their back. I carried a child on my back, offered water, took him to the hospital," the shawl vendor and guide said.

Terming the attack a blot on humanity, he said all of Kashmir is in mourning.

“They should have instead killed us, it should not have happened to them (the tourists). We want to tell all Indians that we stand with them… We are all Indians."

Tage Hailyang

Indian Air Force Corporal Tage Hailyang, who was vacationing in Pahalgam with his wife, risked his life and guided tourists to safety, helping them escape before he fell to the bullets of the terrorists, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said on Thursday. Khandu, who went to Hailyang home at Tajang village in Lower Subansiri district shortly after his mortal remains reached there, said his name will forever be etched in the history of Arunachal Pradesh as a symbol of valour and his sacrifice will inspire the generations to come.

The CM announced that his government would provide Hailyang’s family with financial assistance of Rs 50 lakh, in addition to a job for a member.

Hailyang, one of the 26 people killed in the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on April 22, was laid to rest in his village on Friday.

(With PTI inputs)