Pahalgam: Around 26 people have been killed and dozens are feared to be injured in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam, following a deadliest terror attack, sources said.
Earlier the day terrorists attacked a group of tourists in the Baisran area of Pahalgam hill station. As per sources, 2 to 3 terrorists wearing army fatigues came and fired at horse-riding tourists in the Baisran area around 2.30 p.m.
PM Modi has spoken to Home Minister Amit Shah over the phone from Saudi Arabia regarding the incident. He has asked Shah to take appropriate action and visit the spot.
After talking to the PM, Shah has called an emergency meeting in Delhi.
President Murmu, PM Modi,Rahul Gandhi and several political figures have condemned the incident and expressed their condolences to the families have lost their loved ones in the attack.
Baisran is a small meadow 3 to 4 km from the Pahalgam market, and tourists take horses to reach the place as there is no motorable road to it. “26 tourist was killed in this attack, and 12 others, including tourists and locals, were injured.
The injured have been shifted to Pahalgam hospital, from where three injured with critical injuries were shifted to Srinagar for specialised treatment,” an official said, adding that the area has been cordoned off by the security forces to trace the assailants.
“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. I’ve spoken to my colleague @sakinaitoo & she has moved to the hospital to oversee arrangements for the injured. I’ll be flying back to Srinagar immediately. #Pahalgam”, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said in a post on X.
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. I’ve spoken to my colleague @sakinaitoo…
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) April 22, 2025
“I strongly condemn the cowardly attack on tourists in Pahalgam, which tragically killed five and injured several as being reported for now. Such violence is unacceptable and must be denounced. Historically, Kashmir has welcomed tourists warmly, making this rare incident deeply concerning. A thorough investigation is needed to bring the perpetrators to justice and examine potential security lapses.
Ensuring visitor safety is paramount, and steps must be taken to prevent future attacks. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families”, PDP President and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti said on X.
I strongly condemn the cowardly attack on tourists in Pahalgam, which tragically killed five and injured several as being reported for now . Such violence is unacceptable and must be denounced.
Historically, Kashmir has welcomed tourists warmly, making this rare incident deeply…
— Mehbooba Mufti (@MehboobaMufti) April 22, 2025
This is the first terrorist attack on tourists in the Kashmir Valley in 2025, even as a booming tourist season is presently going on in the Valley. All hotels in Srinagar city, and the tourist resorts of Pahalgam, Gulmarg and Sonamarg are fully occupied. An unprecedented number of tourists are expected in J&K this year and official projections forecast a number of around two crores tourists would visit the UT this year.
Tuesday’s attack comes at a time when registration for this year’s Amarnath Yatra is going on across the country. This year, the Yatra will commence on July 3 and conclude on August 9, coinciding with the Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan festivals, respectively. During his visit to J&K last month, Union Home Minister Amit Shah chaired a high-level security review meeting, where he gave orders for the complete eradication of terrorism with special focus on the Jammu division.
He also gave directions to ensure zero tolerance to infiltration. The Union Home Secretary, the IB Director, the Army chief, the GoCs of all corps in J&K, the chiefs of paramilitary forces, the J&K DGP and intelligence officers attended the meeting. Lt Governor Manoj Sinha has been emphasising that the entire ecosystem of terrorism, including the terrorists, their overground workers (OGWs), and sympathisers, has to be tackled to completely rid J&K of the scourge of terrorism.
Meanwhile soon after the attack security forces have launched a joint anti terror operation to eliminate the terrorists involved in this deadly terror attack.