'It was a distressing scene, injured children, women were crying': Terrorists storm shop, family narrowly escapes Pahalgam terror attack
VIJAYANAGARA/KOPPAL: A planned holiday to picturesque Pahalgam, one the country's premier tourist spots, became a terrifying experience for TM Rajashekar, former member of Vijayanagara Sri Krishnadevaraya University (VSKU) syndicate and retired principal of TMAE College of Education in Harapanahalli.
While Rajashekar remained at the hotel Tuesday, his wife Umadevi, daughter Dr Gaurika, and son-in-law Doddabasayya visited a saffron shop in Bysaran. At 2.20pm, five armed terrorists stormed into the establishment, firing weapons at close range. Amidst the chaos, his family members managed to find cover and escape unharmed.
Rajashekar now cautions others against visiting Pahalgam, located about 80km from Srinagar, despite its scenic beauty.
'Pahalgam is a beautiful tourist destination that attracts thousands of visitors daily from across the country and abroad,' said Rajashekar. 'But it now carries the risk of violence. The central govt did not deploy army forces in this region possibly because it never experienced a terrorist attack in the past.'
He was relieved that his family survived the massacre, attributing it to 'good deeds of their ancestors'. He described the chaos that followed, revealing Indian soldiers arrived an hour later, after many already lost their lives and their families were helpless. 'It was a distressing scene; injured children and women were crying,' he said, adding that the absence of mobile connectivity worsened the situation.
Airlines take advantage
Following the incident, he and his family decided to return home immediately, but faced another problem. 'Taking advantage of the situation, airlines jacked up the prices of tickets from Rs 30,000 to Rs. 40,000,' he said.
Meanwhile, members of four families from Koppal, who travelled to Srinagar Tuesday evening, are safe.
Siddu Ganavari, Sharanappa Sajjan, Cotton Pasha, and Shivakumar Pavali Shettar departed from Mumbai to Srinagar with their families. They cancelled plans to visit Pahalgam and decided to return home after learning about the terror incident.
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