Srinagar, April 22 — At least 25 people, mostly tourists, were killed and several others injured when suspected militants opened fire on a group of visitors in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam, one of the Valley’s top tourist destinations, on Monday afternoon.
According to officials, the tourists were gathered near a viewpoint along the Lidder River when they came under heavy gunfire.
“The attackers opened fire indiscriminately at the group. Rescue teams reached the site immediately, but many had already succumbed to their injuries,” a police official at the scene said.
This is the second attack on tourists since the abrogation of Article 370. On May 18, 2024, in the Yannar area near Pahalgam, a tourist couple from Jaipur, Rajasthan—Tabrez Khan and his wife Farha Khan—were injured when militants opened fire as they alighted from a vehicle to have dinner. Tabrez sustained a gunshot wound to the face, including damage to his eyes. Farha was shot in the shoulder.
Before that, tourists were never targeted in the Kashmir Valley.
Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah has arrived in Srinagar and headed straight to Raj Bhawan. He is scheduled to visit Pahalgam tomorrow.
“The Home Minister will chair a high-level meeting on the attack and the overall security environment,” a senior MHA official confirmed.
Moreover, multiple control rooms have been activated across the Valley to assist tourists. These include Police Control Rooms and administrative monitoring units at the district level.
“We’ve set up helplines and tourist facilitation points in all major districts. The priority is to ensure safety, clear information flow, and immediate support to those affected,” said a senior official from the Information and Public Relations Department.
Forces have launched a massive search operation in and around Pahalgam. “We are tracking leads and coordinating with intelligence units. Those behind this brutal attack will be brought to justice,” said a top police officer in Anantnag district.