Latest news with #Jalgaon-based
News18
23-04-2025
- News18
‘Had We Been There For 10 More Minutes…' Maharashtra Tourists Recall Narrow Escape In Pahalgam
The horrifying incident has sparked nationwide outrage and renewed fears over tourist safety in the Kashmir valley For dozens of tourists from Maharashtra, a vacation to the scenic valleys of Kashmir turned into a nightmare on Tuesday when terrorists opened fire on travellers in Pahalgam, killing 26. Several families from Maharashtra, who were in or near the area during the attack, narrowly escaped what could have been a fatal encounter. A group of 11 tourists from Amravati — including members of the Bodke, Deshmukh, Umekar, and Lande families — had been at the very site of the attack just minutes earlier. 'It's nothing short of a miracle. We had just left the place when the attack happened. Had we been there for even 10 more minutes, we wouldn't have made it back," one of the tourists said. The group is currently safe in Srinagar. In a similar instance, more than 50 tourists from Pandharpur, who had planned to visit Pahalgam, decided to cancel their trip and return to Maharashtra after news of the attack broke. 'We were terrified. No one wanted to continue after that. We took it as Lord Vitthal's blessing and decided to come back," said one of the group members. Sangli's Palande family also had a close shave. Dr Vitthal Palande, who was vacationing in Pahalgam with his family, is an avid sketch artist. He had spent several hours drawing at the very spot where the attack occurred. 'We left that location just three hours before the shooting began. It's haunting to think how close we were," he shared. Kishori Waghulde, wife of Jalgaon-based journalist Tushar Waghulde, was in Pahalgam with a travel group from Mumbai. She recounted how the group was quickly assisted by local security forces and safely moved out. 'We panicked after hearing gunshots, but the response was swift. We're now heading to Katra," she said early Wednesday morning. The terror attack, which took place around noon in Pahalgam, claimed the lives of 26 tourists. The assailants, disguised in police uniforms, reportedly asked tourists about their religion before shooting them. Among the victims were six people from Maharashtra — three from Dombivli (Atul Mone, Sanjay Lele, Hemant Joshi), two from Pune (Santosh Jagdale and Kaustubh Ganbote), and one from Panvel (Dilip Desale). Others from the state, including S Balachandru, Subodh Patil, and Shobhit Patel, sustained injuries. The horrifying incident has sparked nationwide outrage and renewed fears over tourist safety in the Kashmir valley. Many travel agencies are now suspending tours to the region as a precaution. First Published: April 23, 2025, 14:37 IST
News18
23-04-2025
- News18
Forces Saved Our Lives, Recounts Jalgaon Tourist Who Escaped Pahalgam Attack
Last Updated: Kishori Waghdule, who had travelled to Pahalgam with her friend, says she was lucky to have survived the terror attack 'We were terrified, but security forces acted swiftly and protected us," said Neha alias Kishori Waghdule, a tourist from Jalgaon, who was in Pahalgam when terrorists opened fire on travellers on Monday evening. The attack claimed 26 lives, including six from Maharashtra, and left several others injured. Waghdule, wife of Jalgaon-based journalist Tushar Waghdule, had travelled to Pahalgam with her friend Renuka Bhoge through a Mumbai-based private travel agency. Speaking over the phone, she described the tense atmosphere that gripped the area moments after the firing began. 'There was chaos when news of the firing spread. We were nearby, and panic took over for a moment. But within minutes, local security forces arrived and ensured our safety. Their quick response gave us a lot of relief," Waghdule shared. Neha and her group left Pahalgam around 5.30am on Tuesday and were en route to Katra when they spoke to media. 'We are all safe," she assured, easing the anxiety of families back in Maharashtra who had been desperately waiting for updates. Officials confirmed that six tourists, all from Maharashtra, were killed on the spot, while several others were rushed to Anantnag hospital with serious injuries. Security agencies have called it a deliberate attempt to destabilise the growing tourism in Kashmir. A large-scale manhunt has been launched to nab the attackers. The attack is being considered the deadliest in the Valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019. Some foreign nationals too were among the victims. First Published: April 23, 2025, 09:33 IST
