J&K: Tourist Killed, Several Hurt in Attack on Pahalgam Health Resort
Srinagar: At least one tourist was killed and several are injured, some critically, in an attack in south Kashmir's Pahalgam health resort where a group of suspected militants opened fire at tourists today (April 22).
At least two victims were brought to Anantnag district hospital in a critical state at around 4:30 pm today. Two more victims were taken to a nearby medical centre where their condition is reported to be stable.
Reports and officials said that gunshots were heard at around 2:50 pm on Tuesday in Baisaran meadow which is a rugged seven kilometres trail from Pahalgam bus stand and apparently very popular among day hikers and other adventure tourists.
'I was eating bhelpuri (a popular snack) with my husband when a man came and shot him. He (gunman) said he was perhaps a Muslim and that is why he shot him,' a young woman in tears can be seen narrating to a local news gatherer, according to a video which circulated on social media.
A screengrab from a video circulating on the Pahalgam attack showing a woman with a blood-smeared face.
A middle-aged woman with blood-smeared face and an anguished teenager can also be seen in the video while the Kashmiri man doing the shooting can be heard assuring the victims that they had nothing to be afraid of and that he was going to stay with them.
'Please save my husband. For god's sake, save him,' another woman screams at him.
At some distance, a young man wearing a camouflaged shirt can be seen lying motionless on the ground in a bloodied state while a local horseman with a phone hooked to his ear passes by.
A screengrab from a video circulating on the Pahalgam attack showing two bodies lying in a meadow.
The camera then turns to the meadow where two to three persons can be seen also lying on the ground motionless at some distance from each other.
'Brother please help us. Please ask for help. His condition is bad,' another young woman says of her husband to the man shooting the video who in turn offers them water as the 49-second video comes to end.
Soon after the news reached the district headquarters, a team of civil and police officials from Anantnag rushed to the meadow in the upper reaches of Pahalgam which is not serviced by road.
The only way to reach the meadow is by hiking, on horseback or in a chopper. A group of hikers were visiting the area at the time of the firing, officials said.
A cordon and search operation also involving the army was launched in the area following the attack. Choppers were seen hovering over the area purportedly to trace the attackers, witnesses said.
Sources said that some of the victims have been critically injured in the attack. This has triggered a wave of anxiety and fears in the popular south Kashmir health resort as some believe it could deal a blow to the tourism sector.
While the Print is the first to report that one tourist has passed away, the identity of the deceased and the injured was not immediately known. According to a report, foreigners are among injured. There has been no official statement about the attack at the time when this report was filed.
According to one report, a woman, who is believed to be among the victims, rang up the police control room to report the attack, stating that her husband had been hit in the head and that six to seven more tourists were injured in the attack. The Wire couldn't immediately verify the report.
'My husband was shot in the head while seven others were also injured in the attack,' the unidentified woman told PTI over phone, pleading for help in evacuating the injured.
According to another PTI report, prime minister Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation with the Union home minister Amit Shah on the attack. The PM asked Shah to take 'all suitable measures' and 'visit the site,' the agency reported, quoting government sources.
J&K chief minister Omar Abdullah, Peoples Democratic Party chief Mehbooba Mufti, J&K Congress president Tariq Karra, Peoples Conference chief Sajad Lone, senior Bhartiya Janata Party leader Ravinder Raina and other political leaders also condemned the attack.
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