What was meant to be a relaxing trip for a group of tourists in Kashmir ended in tragedy when gunmen opened fire in the scenic town of Pahalgam, a popular summer retreat.
The incident, which occurred on a quiet Tuesday afternoon, quickly became one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in the region in recent years.
Indian authorities confirmed that at least 24 people were killed in the attack, though local sources suggest the actual number could rise to between 26 and 30.
In the chaos that followed, heart-wrenching scenes of wounded tourists and their loved ones crying for help began to circulate on social media, capturing the horror that unfolded.
Scenes of Grief and Panic
In the aftermath, disturbing videos surfaced online.
One particularly haunting clip shows a woman desperately pleading for someone to save her husband.
Another tourist, her face marked with blood and fear, is seen staring helplessly into a camera, unable to make sense of the sudden violence.
“We were just having a snack when someone started shooting,” another woman recalled, still in shock.
The videos serve as chilling reminders of the human toll behind the headlines, painting a vivid picture of the chaos and heartbreak at the scene.
Leaders React with Outrage
Kashmir’s Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, didn’t hold back his emotions.
Calling the assault “inhuman,” he described it as one of the worst acts of violence targeting civilians in recent memory.
“These attackers are not just criminals—they’re inhuman, completely devoid of compassion,” he said in a public statement.
India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, also weighed in.
“I strongly condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam,” he posted on X (formerly Twitter).
“My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their loved ones, and I pray for a speedy recovery for the injured. Justice will be served—those responsible will not go unpunished.”
Who’s Behind the Attack?
As of now, no group has claimed responsibility for the assault.
However, the region has a long history of unrest. Kashmir, a territory claimed by both India and Pakistan, has been the epicenter of an insurgency since 1989.
Some armed groups in the area are pushing for either independence or a merger with Pakistan.
While India often accuses Pakistan of supporting militant groups operating in Kashmir, Pakistan denies any involvement, maintaining that it supports only peaceful advocacy for Kashmiri self-determination.
A Troubled Paradise
Kashmir has long been promoted as a must-visit destination, especially since India revoked the region’s limited autonomy in 2019.
The government has since worked hard to encourage tourism, with over 3.5 million people—mostly from within India—visiting in 2024 alone.
In 2023, India even hosted a G20 tourism summit in Srinagar to showcase the region’s stability.
New resorts and travel infrastructure continue to spring up, some of them close to the heavily militarized Line of Control between India and Pakistan.
But incidents like this attack threaten to undo those efforts.
“These were innocent people, simply here to enjoy the beauty of Kashmir,” said Ravinder Raina, a member of the ruling BJP party.
“And yet they were targeted in cold blood.”
What Happens Next?
As the nation mourns and the investigation unfolds, the bigger question looms: can peace truly take root in a region that has seen so much conflict?
Security has been tightened, and a manhunt is underway for the attackers.
Meanwhile, leaders continue to promise justice, and survivors try to make sense of what happened.
For the families of the victims, the road to healing will be long—and for Kashmir, the struggle for peace continues.