Fearful for life, tourists flee Kashmir after deadly attack

Buzzing with tourists just a day before, Kashmir’s most sensitive regions wore a ghostly look on the morning of April 23. This came after a brutal and deadly attack in Pahalgam forced visitors to pack their bags and leave in a hurry.

Tourists, shaken and scared, started leaving in large numbers. Sameer Bhardwaj, a visitor from Delhi, shared his experience before heading home. “We had been in Kashmir for three days. Pahalgam was part of our plan, but after what happened, we can’t stay here anymore. It’s terrifying.”

The attack has sent shockwaves not just across Kashmir but across the country. Security was immediately ramped up in Anantnag district, where the attack took place. Armed officers were seen stopping vehicles, checking for suspects, and patrolling streets. The alert even reached cities like Delhi and Mumbai.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who rushed back from a visit to Saudi Arabia, strongly condemned the attack. He promised that the attackers will be found and punished. Several government ministers also arrived in Kashmir shortly after the incident, highlighting the seriousness of the situation.

Reports from the ground were chilling. According to a tour guide in Pahalgam, some of the wounded were carried away on horseback. Eyewitnesses said the attackers spared women but shot many men at close range. One man, Waheed, who witnessed the scene, said he saw multiple bodies lying on the ground.

The Indian Army’s Chinar Corps confirmed that a full-scale manhunt is underway. “All efforts are focused on bringing the attackers to justice,” a statement said.

Kashmir has seen years of violence, but the past few years had brought hope as the region slowly turned into a peaceful holiday destination again. In 2024, nearly 3.5 million tourists had visited—most of them from within India.