Shillong, April 22 (Agencies): After the flash flood and landslides, the tourism in Jammu and Kashmir is now hit by a terrorist attack that killed at least 25 persons on Tuesday.
The attack took place in Pahalgam, one of the major tourist places in South Kashmir. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah took to social media to express his shock and awe. “I’m shocked beyond belief. This attack on our visitors is an abomination. The perpetrators of this attack are animals, inhuman & worthy of contempt. No words of condemnation are enough. I send my sympathies to the families of the deceased. I’ve spoken to my colleague @sakinaitoo & she has moved to the hospital to oversee arrangements for the injured. I’ll be flying back to Srinagar immediately,” he said on X, formerly Twitter.
Tasleema Akhter, Chairperson of the Association of Terror Victims in Kashmir (ATVK), condemned the attack on “innocent tourists” on Tuesday and called the violence an act of cowardice.
“This heinous act is yet another grim reminder of the persistent threat posed by Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Jammu & Kashmir. Targeting unarmed civilians, especially peace-loving tourists who come to experience the natural beauty and harmony of Kashmir, is not only an act of inhumanity but a deliberate attempt to sabotage the region’s peace and economic revival. These attacks aim to instill fear, destroy livelihoods, and tarnish the image of Kashmir, which is finally on the path of progress and healing. My heartfelt sympathies go out to the families of the terror victims,” she wrote on X.
The terror attack at Pahalgam is a heinous act of violence that has caused immense suffering and loss of precious lives. We strongly condemn this senseless act, which targeted innocent lives and caused irreparable harm to families and communities. Our thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones, and we stand in solidarity with those affected. In the face of hate and violence, I urge everyone to unite against terrorism. ~ Conrad Sangma on X
“Our beloved 20 tourists—injured and killed today by Pakistan-sponsored guns—will never be forgotten. Their pain is our pain, and their loss is a wound on the soul of our land. The people of Jammu & Kashmir reject this violence and the ideology of terror. We stand united in solidarity with the victims and their families. ATVK will continue to amplify the voices of those affected by such tragedies and expose the truth behind these attacks on national and international platforms,” she added.
Manjunath Rao (47), a resident of Shivamogga in Karnataka, is among the tourists who died in the terrorist attack.
Condemning the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X, “I strongly condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected. Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice…they will not be spared! Their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will get even stronger.”
The direct attack on visitors is a setback for the tourism sector in the Union territory that may witness a drop in footfall of tourists in the near future.
