Deadly ambush in Pahalgam: 26 killed in brutal attack on Kashmir’s peaceful tourist haven

The lush Himalayan town of Pahalgam, known for its emerald valleys and tranquil meadows, turned into a scene of carnage on Tuesday when gunmen opened fire on a group of unsuspecting tourists. At least 26 people are dead, dozens more lie wounded, and the nation reels in horror.

The attack, described as one of the deadliest on civilians in recent years, unfolded in Baisaran — a mountain-top meadow three miles from Pahalgam. The tourists had barely stepped off their bus when shots rang out. Eyewitnesses say the gunmen emerged from nearby woods and unleashed a targeted onslaught.

“They picked out the men and executed them,” sobbed Pallavi Rao, whose husband took a bullet to the head. “It was like they were sorting us. They let us women live. But the men… they never stood a chance.”

The attackers used automatic weapons, according to preliminary reports. Victims collapsed on grass once meant for picnic blankets, now stained red. Survivors ran, screamed, and ducked. Some lay still, pretending to be dead.

Shock quickly turned into mourning. Candlelight vigils lit up the towns of Anantnag and Baramulla. Angry locals demanded justice. Shops and schools across the region shut down in protest. The bloodshed has sparked a fresh wave of unrest in a region long scarred by conflict.

No group has claimed responsibility for the massacre. Authorities suspect a well-coordinated militant faction orchestrated the killings to destabilise the area and send a brutal message.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short a diplomatic trip to Saudi Arabia and rushed back to Delhi, where he convened a high-level security meeting. Home Minister Amit Shah travelled to Srinagar, laying wreaths before the coffins of the fallen. Shah promised a “relentless pursuit of justice.”

In a separate but possibly related incident, Indian soldiers killed two suspected militants in Baramulla, around 140km from the attack site, during a reported infiltration attempt near the Line of Control. Weapons and ammunition were seized.

International condemnation followed swiftly. UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the killings “an assault on humanity.” US President Donald Trump offered solidarity and said, “The United States stands strong with India against terrorism.” UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer called the attack “utterly devastating.” Italy and the UAE joined in condemning the violence.

The massacre happened during a high-profile visit by US Vice President JD Vance, who was in India with his family. He described the attack as “heartbreaking” and offered condolences to victims while touring Jaipur.

The tragedy dredges up Kashmir’s long, bloodied history. The disputed region, claimed by both India and Pakistan, has endured a decades-long insurgency. While skirmishes and militant strikes are tragically familiar, direct assaults on tourists remain rare.

In 2019, India revoked the region’s special constitutional status, exacerbating tensions with Pakistan and altering the landscape of conflict. Tuesday’s killings appear to mark a grim new chapter in an already volatile story.

For now, grief hangs heavy over Pahalgam. Locals and tourists alike remain shaken. Ambulances keep rolling in. Hospitals work through the night. And families wait outside mortuaries for a glimpse of their loved ones ‘ faces twisted not just by sorrow, but by the sheer brutality of what was done to them.