On April 22, 2025, 26 people, including two foreign nationals and at least 16 tourists, were killed in a terrorist attack in Baisaran Valley, Pahalgam, Kashmir. In addition, 20 other people were injured. The attack, carried out by a group affiliated to Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, killed 6 tourists from Maharashtra, including 3 from Dombivali and 1 from Panvel.
According to eyewitnesses, the terrorists carried out targeted attacks based on personal identification and mainly targeted men. The victims included Manish Ranjan, an excise inspector posted in Hyderabad and a native of Bihar, who was shot dead in front of his wife and children.
The attack is being considered the biggest terrorist act in the region since the 2019 Pulwama attack. Baisaran Valley, popularly known as “Mini Switzerland”, is a favourite spot for tourists and trekkers. Officials said the terrorists entered the area and opened indiscriminate fire on tourists who were loitering around restaurants, riding ponies and picnicking.
In view of the situation, Air India has started additional flights from Srinagar to Delhi and Mumbai on April 23. Union Home Minister Amit Shah has reached Srinagar to assess the security situation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on an official visit to Saudi Arabia, decided to end his trip ahead of schedule and return to India on Tuesday night.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the incident as “bigger than any attack on civilians in recent years”.
