Terrorists attack tourist hotspot in Pahalgam, multiple killed and over 20 injured

Security personnel rush to the spot following a terrorist attack on tourists, in Pahalgam on Tuesday.
| Photo Credit:
ANI

Terrorists struck a popular tourist destination in Pahalgam, South Kashmir, on Tuesday, killing several people and injuring at least 20 others, officials said.

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the exact death toll is still being ascertained. “This attack is much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years,” he said in a post on X.

The attack occurred around 3 p.m. when terrorists descended from the mountains near the Baisaran Valley and opened fire on tourists. The area, often referred to as “mini Switzerland” for its expansive lush green meadows, was bustling with visitors at the time.

Anantnag: Security personnel stand guard after terrorists attacked a group of tourists at Pahalgam, in Anantnag district, Jammu & Kashmir, Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI

The incident coincided with the visit of US Vice President J.D. Vance and his family, who were in Rajasthan on Tuesday during their four-day tour of India.

A purported video from the site showed people bleeding and lying motionless on the ground, with distraught women wailing and searching for their family members. However, there has been no official verification of the video.

“I’m shocked beyond belief. This attack on our visitors is an abomination. The perpetrators are animals — inhuman and worthy of contempt. No words of condemnation are enough. I send my sympathies to the families of the deceased,” Abdullah said.

The attack comes amid a surge in tourist arrivals to Kashmir after years of militancy. The 38-day Amarnath Yatra is also scheduled to begin on July 3.

Authorities deployed helicopters to evacuate the injured, with some victims brought down from the meadows on ponies by local residents. A doctor at the Pahalgam hospital confirmed that 12 tourists had been admitted and all were in stable condition. “My husband was shot in the head, and seven others were also injured,” a woman survivor told PTI over the phone.

According to initial reports, the terrorists emerged from dense pine forests surrounding Baisaran, a site popular with Bollywood filmmakers in the 1980s.

An injured being brought for treatment at a hospital, after terrorists attacked a group of tourists at Pahalgam, in Anantnag district, Jammu & Kashmir, Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Army, CRPF, and local police personnel rushed to the site following initial reports. A massive anti-terror operation has been launched, with security forces fanning out in all directions to trace the attackers.

The once-busy resort town turned into a ghost town after the attack, as tourists quickly left the area fearing further violence.

Baisaran, apart from being a scenic attraction, is also a base camp for trekkers heading to Tulian Lake. It is accessible from Pahalgam by ponies and offers a panoramic view of the Lidder Valley.

Injured being shifted to a hospital after terrorists attacked a group of tourists at Pahalgam, in Anantnag district, Jammu & Kashmir, Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI

The Amarnath Yatra typically sees lakhs of pilgrims traveling from across the country, either through the traditional 48-km Pahalgam route in Anantnag district or the shorter 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal.

Published on April 22, 2025