In one of the most deadly terror attacks in Jammu & Kashmir’s Pahalgam, at least 26 people were feared killed, out of which two were foreigners.
The assault took place around 2:30 pm on Tuesday when a team of armed terrorists, wearing military uniforms, shot at tourists in Baisaran meadow, Pahalgam.
Visuals from the scene of the incident displayed bodies scattered and women weeping in despair as residents hurried to assist them. A witness reported that unknown assailants shot at the tourists from a short distance, causing injuries to multiple individuals. A video captured a man strolling through the picturesque meadow when the terrorists began shooting. Gunfire can be distinctly heard in the background.
As gunfire erupted, chaos ensued and visitors sought refuge, but there was nowhere to conceal themselves in the expansive area, reported another observer.
The Baisaran meadow lies approximately 5 kilometers from the Pahalgam hill station and can only be reached on foot or by ponies. Armed militants entered the grassland, referred to as ‘mini Switzerland,’ and opened fire on tourists who were enjoying meals at restaurants, riding ponies, or simply picnicking and sightseeing, officials reported to the news agency PTI.
Home minister Amit Shah reaches Srinagar
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has arrived in Srinagar to conduct a high-level meeting following the terrorist assault on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah greets him upon arrival at the airport.
Intelligence sources indicate that four to six militants participated in the terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir.
Among the assailants are thought to be foreign terrorists (FT), allegedly from Pakistan. The assailants are reported to have arrived in the area just days prior. They performed reconnaissance prior to initiating the attack when they discovered an opening.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah convened a meeting with Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, ex-Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and various senior officials following the terrorist assault in Pahalgam, Srinagar.
