SRINAGAR, Apr 22: In a militant attack on a group of tourists at Baisaran, above Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, one person has been confirmed dead, while several others sustained injuries. Eyewitness videos circulating on social media suggest the toll could be higher, with three to four more bodies seen lying motionless, presumed dead.
The attack as per Srinagar based news gathering agency Kashmir Dot Com occurred in the forested meadow of Baisaran, a spot popular among visiting tourists, particularly in spring and summer. The lone confirmed fatality so far is Shalinder Kalpiya,. Security agencies are working to confirm the identities and condition of others visible in the footage.
According to preliminary reports, many tourists have been injured, some of them critically. The injured include individuals from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha. Among those named so far are Vino Bhat, Manik Patil, Rino Pandey, S. Balachandru, Dr. Parmeshwar, Abhijavan Rao, Santru, and Sahshi Kumari. The actual number of injured is believed to be higher, with several currently under treatment at different hospitals.
Security forces have launched a massive search operation in and around the area, combing through the forests to track down the attackers. Top police and administrative officials have reached the spot, and efforts are underway to provide emergency aid and safely evacuate other tourists from the area.
The timing of the attack—just ahead of the tourist season and upcoming Amarnath Yatra—has raised serious security concerns. Officials say it appears to be a calculated attempt to disrupt peace and deter tourism in the Valley.
More details are expected as investigations progress and the full scope of the casualties becomes clear. (KDC)
