Pahalgam Terror Attack: Elderly Keralite, On Holiday With Family, Shot Dead In Front Of Daughter

News18

23-04-2025

Ramachandran, an Edappally native, was tragically killed in a terror attack in Kashmir's Pahalgam while on holiday with his family. His daughter witnessed the horrifying incident.
Edapally native Ramachandran's love for travel, a passion shared by his wife, ended in tragedy on Tuesday when he, along with 25 others, was gunned down by terrorists in Kashmir's Pahalgam, and in front of his daughter, who had come down from Dubai to meet her parents.
Ramachandran (65) travelled to Kashmir with his wife, daughter and grandchildren for a holiday.
He was shot dead by terrorists in front of his daughter, family sources said on Wednesday.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's office confirmed his death in the terror attack late Tuesday but didn't divulge many details.
The shocked family members and friends, who rushed to Ramachandran's house in Edappally in the morning, said they were yet to come to terms with his demise.
After working in the UAE for several years, Ramachandran returned to Kochi with his wife, Sheela, some years ago.
A woman relative, who could be seen fighting back her tears, said the couple went to Kashmir along with their daughter and grandchildren, who arrived from Dubai for a holiday.
'Both of them were very much fond of travelling. A day before they went to Kashmir, Sheela called me and informed me about their journey. They were very happy," she told the media at Ramachandran's house in Edappally.
She said she is still in shock and felt a shiver thinking about the tragic demise of Ramachandran.
Sivasankaran Nair, a neighbour of Ramachandran, said they talked to each other even on the previous day, and the family proceeded to Kashmir.
'I never imagined even in my dreams that their journey would end like this. I could not believe it even now. He was a good friend," Nair said.
Family sources said Ramachandran had a daughter and a son.
His son has already left for Kashmir after hearing the news.
Expressing deep sorrow over the demise of Ramachandran, BJP state chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar said as per the information he received, the mortal remains would be brought to Kochi by 7.30-8.00 pm on Wednesday.
He also said they were tracking all details and coordinating with family members.
NORKA Roots, the field agency of the Department of Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) launched a help desk to provide assistance, services and information to Keralites in view of the terror attack, a statement from the CMO said.
Meanwhile, actor-turned MLA Mukesh, who was among a group of Kerala legislators who had reached Kashmir as part of an official tour, said they managed to contact Ramachandran's daughter.
He said the deceased man's wife is yet to know about the husband's tragic end.
'Ramachandran's daughter is handling everything. We were told that his wife is yet to be informed about the tragedy. She is weak. The daughter has to manage that also along with the grief of her father's unexpected death," he told a TV channel over phone.
The MLA said it is heartbreaking to see the sorrow of the relatives of deceased people while recounting the shocking incident to Union Home Minister Amit Shah when he arrived to pay homage to the victims.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI)