In a horrifying act of terror, 28 tourists were killed and over 20 others injured in an attack carried out by militants in the peaceful Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22, 2025.
The attack took place around 1:30 PM, when six militants dressed in army uniforms appeared from the nearby forest area and began asking tourists to identify themselves and recite Islamic verses. Those who failed to do so were brutally shot at point-blank range. Witnesses recounted that the attackers seemed to target non-Muslim men, with one female survivor being told she was spared so she could narrate the incident to the Prime Minister.
The location’s remoteness posed a major challenge to rescue operations. Local villagers rushed to help, using ponies to carry the injured to safety, while security forces airlifted the critically wounded. At least 12 injured individuals were hospitalized in Pahalgam and are reported to be in stable condition.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short his foreign visit and returned to the country, calling an emergency meeting with top national security officials. The Home Minister and Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir also reviewed the situation. Prominent leaders across political lines condemned the attack, describing it as cowardly, inhuman, and a grave crime against humanity.
The National Investigation Agency has been deployed to lead the investigation. A search operation is underway to trace the attackers. A photograph of a suspected terrorist has surfaced, though its authenticity is yet to be confirmed.
This attack, the deadliest in the valley since 2019, has sparked national grief and outrage, with candlelight vigils and protests erupting across the region.