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News18
23-04-2025
- Politics
- News18
Pahalgam Terror Attack: Elderly Keralite, On Holiday With Family, Shot Dead In Front Of Daughter
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)
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First Post
23-04-2025
- Politics
- First Post
'They were very happy': Elderly Keralite's family holiday turns into tragedy in Pahalgam terror attack
Ramachandran was shot dead by terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam while holidaying with his family. His daughter, who had flown from Dubai, witnessed the horror read more 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 holidaying. He was shot dead by terrorists in front of his daughter, family sources said here on Wednesday. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's office confirmed his death in the terror attack late Tuesday but didn't divulge much details. The shocked family members and friends, who rushed to Ramachandran's house in Edappally here in the morning, said they were yet 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 here from Dubai for holidaying. 'Both of them were very much fond of travelling. A day before they went to Kashmir, Sheela called me and informed about their were very happy,' she told the media at Ramachandran's house in Edappally. She said she is still under shock and felt a shiver thinking about the tragic demise of Ramachandran. Sivasankaran Nair, a neighbour of Ramachandran, said they talked each other even on the previous day the family proceeded to Kashmir. 'I never imagined even in my dreams that their journey would be end like this. I could not believe even now. He was a good friend,' Nair said. Family sources said Ramachandran had a daughter and 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. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 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. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD (Except headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff)
New Indian Express
23-04-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Kerala CM Pinarayi directs NORKA to assist Keralites in Kashmir
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has directed NORKA Roots to set up immediate support systems to assist Keralites in Jammu and Kashmir in the wake of the terror attack in Pahalgam. He confirmed that four MLAs from the state and three High Court judges who are currently in Srinagar, are safe. MLAs M Mukesh, K P A Majeed, T Siddique and K Ansalan are among those in the area. High Court judges Anil K Narendran, P G Ajithkumar, and Girish are safe in a hotel in Srinagar and are expected to return on Wednesday. The news of the death of an Ernakulam native is extremely painful, the chief minister said. He promised that the government would take full responsibility to bring the deceased's family back to the state safely. The chief minister has also instructed NORKA Roots to ensure that all necessary assistance is made available to Malayalis who are currently in Jammu and Kashmir for tourism. A NORKA help desk has been launched. The help desk can be contacted via the Norka Global Contact Centre toll free number 18004253939 and by giving a missed call to 00918802012345. The chief minister has also directed Kerala House to set up necessary facilities and arrangements in Delhi.
