Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley, a gem in Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district, is a place where pine forests meet snow-capped peaks, earning it the moniker “mini Switzerland.” On April 22, 2025, this haven of tranquility was shattered by a brutal terror attack that claimed 26 lives and wounded many more. The assault, carried out by heavily armed militants, targeted tourists and locals alike, leaving behind a trail of grief and a nation grappling with shock. As Kashmir mourns, the stories of the victims and the resilience of its people compel us to reflect on the cost of violence and the hope for a peaceful future.
In This Article:
The Attack
The horror unfolded around 1:30 pm, as Baisaran buzzed with the joy of families, honeymooners, and adventurers. Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, a Navy officer from Haryana, was celebrating his recent wedding. Manjunath Rao, a businessman from Shivamogga, Karnataka, was with his wife Pallavi and their young son. Tourists from Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Maharashtra, and abroad soaked in the valley’s beauty. Suddenly, terrorists in fatigues emerged from the woods, checking identities and targeting non-Muslims, particularly Hindus, before opening fire. The Resistance Front (TRF), a Lashkar-e-Taiba proxy, claimed responsibility for the calculated act. Pallavi watched Manjunath die, her son traumatized beside her. A survivor from Pune recalled the chilling taunt: “Go tell this to Modi.”
The Victims
The attack claimed a diverse group: an Intelligence Bureau officer, two foreign tourists, an IT professional from Bengal, and others from across India. Lieutenant Narwal, married just six days earlier, symbolized dreams cut short. The remote terrain, accessible only by foot or horseback, delayed rescues, and the death toll rose as families waited in agony. Pallavi’s plea to airlift her husband’s body echoed the despair of those left behind, their lives forever altered by a few minutes of terror.
The Response
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called the attack unprecedented in its scale against civilians. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cutting short a Saudi Arabia visit, vowed justice, while Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha rushed to Srinagar. The National Investigation Agency will lead the probe. Global leaders, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin and US Vice President JD Vance, offered condolences, highlighting the attack’s international resonance. Security forces are combing the forests, determined to bring the perpetrators to account.
The Impact
Kashmir, riding a tourism boom, now faces a setback. Pahalgam, a crown jewel, is scarred, its locals like Mohd. Umar lamenting lost livelihoods and shaken guests. Yet, the Valley’s spirit endures. Srinagar’s candlelight march united mourners, and residents aided survivors, with ponies carrying the wounded. The attack has sparked outrage, with Jammu observing a bandh and voices on X decrying the “pure evil” of the act.
The Pahalgam attack is not just a statistic—26 lives lost, 20 injured, five to six terrorists. It is Manjunath’s final moments, Vinay’s unfulfilled vows, a child’s stolen innocence. As the nation grieves, we must amplify these stories, demand justice, and support Kashmir’s healing. The meadows of Baisaran, though bloodied, hold the promise of renewal. Let us honor the fallen by working for a future where terror no longer stalks paradise, and Kashmir’s heart beats with hope.
-By Manoj H
