Pahalgam: Screaming screams pierced the sky of Baisaran Meadows in this southern Kashmir resort, as more than a dozen tourists lay motionless in blood as one of the deadliest terrorist attacks on civilians in recent years in J&K.
Witnesses claimed that once the bullets began to fly, a few locals earned their livelihoods from the tourism industry for safety, while tourists were sitting in ducks.
A female survivor told PTI over the phone: “My husband was shot…he was shot. Seven more people were injured in the attack.”
The woman who did not identify herself begged for help from evacuating the injured hospital.
“Bhaiyya asks simple husband Ko Bacha Lo (brother, please save my husband),” the woman defended the reporter frantically.
Officials said that since the famous grassland can only be reached by foot or ponytails, authorities must summon choppers to evacuate injured people.
However, some of the injured were put down by locals before the helicopter arrived on the scene.
Local travel guides and pony solidified survivors even as they summon more people to evacuate injured tourists to the nearest maneuver point.
Once news of the attack broke out, the roads and streets in Pahargam were deserted as the number of tourists brought the resort to a safer place.
Jamu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the death toll is still being determined. “This attack is much bigger than any attacks against civilians we have in recent years,” he said on X.
A video of the Pahalgam attack scene appeared, showing several people bleeding on the ground while female tourists were crying and searching for close relatives and dear people. Some were stunned, unable to react, and were helped by locals.
“I was shocked. The attack on our tourists was a hatred. The perpetrators of this attack were animals, inhumane and worthy of despising. There was no sufficient condemnation. I sympathize with the families of the deceased,” CM Abdullah said.
Kashmir has witnessed a surge in tourists as Kashmir has been armed for many years. Additionally, the 38-day pilgrimage to Amarnath is scheduled to begin on July 3.
Baisaran is the main tourist destination in Pahalgam, in addition to being a campground for hikers who want to move further to Tulian Lake.
