‘Couldn't Have Returned Without My Kashmiri Brothers' Help': Kochi Woman Who Lost Her Father In Pahalgam Recounts Horror

News18

24-04-2025

Last Updated:
Arathy's father N Ramachandran was asked to recite the Kalma and when he said he did not know, he was shot dead by the terrorists
Arathy Menon had never imagined in her wildest dreams that a vacation she was taking with her family would end with her losing her father.
Arathy, who hails from Kochi, Kerala, was in Pahalgam on April 22 when she was caught in the terrorist attack. Sharing her terrifying experience with CNN-News18, Arathy, who was with her father N Ramachandran and her children, said they were enjoying the scenic spot known as 'Mini Switzerland' when they suddenly heard a commotion.
Arathy quickly realised they were under attack by terrorists. In a desperate attempt to protect her family, she took her father and children to hide in a nearby toilet. She tried calling her driver, but there was no network.
They decided to move out, searching for a way to escape when they heard 10 gunshots. As they ran, for 30 long minutes, she heard continuous gunfire. The terrorists eventually found them and demanded they recite the 'Kalma.' When her father replied, 'I don't know," they shot him. Arathy held her father as he died in her arms.
Despite being from Kerala, Arathy said she and her children received immense support from the local Kashmiri people. Her driver and the locals provided them with clothes and helped them return safely. Arathy expressed her unwavering trust in Prime Minister Modi and the government, emphasising that her statement was not political. She concluded with a heartfelt 'Namaste and Jai Hind," recounting their arduous escape down the mountain range.
Twenty-six people were killed when terrorists attacked the scenic tourist spot as people were holidaying.
In his first response to the brutal Pahalgam attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the entire country knows how 'terrorists brutally killed innocent, and India stands with the family of victims".
Speaking about the Pahalgam incident, PM Modi said: 'Conspirators and terrorists, who committed this will get punishment beyond their imagination."
First Published:
April 24, 2025, 15:38 IST