“Didn’t Look Back”: Couple From Maharashtra Escaped Pahalgam Attack by 20-Minute
"Didn't Look Back": Couple From Maharashtra Escaped Pahalgam Attack by 20-Minute
Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir: A Maharashtra family visiting the picturesque town of Pahalgam narrowly escaped the deadly terror attack that claimed 26 lives, marking one of the worst assaults on civilians in Jammu and Kashmir in recent years.
Speaking from a hospital bed, the traumatised couple recounted the horrifying moments they faced during their trip to the popular tourist destination, located around 90 kilometres from Srinagar.
“We didn’t look back. We just wanted to escape,” said the man from Nagpur, who was travelling with his wife and son. “We had just left the spot when the firing started. We could hear gunshots for a long time. Everyone was running to save themselves.”
The family said the only exit was a narrow 4-foot-wide gate, packed with panicked tourists. “I was only thinking about the safety of my wife and child,” he added. His wife, who sustained a leg fracture in the chaos, echoed the terrifying memory: “People were shouting ‘firing ho rahi hai’, and pushing from behind. There were children, everyone was trying to get out. We didn’t stop or turn back.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly condemned the attack, calling it a “heinous act” and vowed that those responsible “will be brought to justice”. PM Modi, currently on an official visit to Saudi Arabia, contacted Home Minister Amit Shah and directed him to visit the site. Shah reached Srinagar shortly after 9 pm.
“The perpetrators of this cowardly terror attack will face the harshest consequences,” said Shah in a statement earlier.
Rahul Gandhi, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, described the killings as “heartbreaking,” and emphasized the need for accountability. “The whole country stands united against terrorism,” he said, urging the government to take responsibility and action.
A local tour guide, Waheed, shared his account with AFP. “I heard the gunfire and rushed to the scene. I saw men lying motionless on the ground. Some were dead,” he said, adding that he helped transport the injured on horseback.
Jammu and Kashmir’s former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called the attack “an abomination.” In his official statement, he said, “This act is far more brutal than any we’ve seen targeting civilians in recent times. The perpetrators are inhuman and deserve nothing but contempt.”
The attack has sparked a wave of grief and outrage across the nation. With security forces launching an extensive search operation, authorities have assured that the attackers will face swift and severe justice.
