“We Just Want to Go Home”: Tourists Flee Pahalgam After Deadly Terror Attack

Fear and uncertainty grip tourists in Kashmir following the Pahalgam tragedy, as many cut their trips short amid valley-wide shutdown and security clampdown.

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir), April 23:
In the wake of the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, which claimed multiple lives and injured several others, tourists in the Kashmir Valley are now rushing to return home, gripped by fear and uncertainty.

A tourist from Jharkhand, visibly shaken, shared his distress with ANI while boarding a bus, saying,

“Our ticket was for tomorrow, but we are leaving today. We are scared. I’m here with family and just want us to get home safely.”

Sameer Bhardwaj, a tourist from Delhi, echoed similar sentiments.

“We’ve been in Kashmir for three days. We had plans for Pahalgam, but with the current situation, we’re heading back to Delhi. What happened here is very wrong. Something like this has never happened in Pahalgam before,” he said.

Panic and Escape

A tourist couple from Nagpur, Maharashtra, recounted the horrifying moment they heard gunshots just after leaving the site of the attack.

“We had just left when it happened. We heard gunfire and saw people running. We didn’t even look back—just ran,” the woman recalled.

Tourism Industry Reacts

Abhijit Patil, Chairman of Raja Rani Travels, described the incident as unprecedented in his decades-long career.

“This is an unfortunate tragedy. In 72 years, we’ve never seen an attack like this targeting tourists. The valley has united in support—hoteliers and locals are reassuring stranded tourists. The true impact on tourism will become clear in the days ahead,” he said.

National Response and Mourning

Union Home Minister Amit Shah met with grieving families earlier in the day at the Police Control Room in Srinagar, where raw emotion filled the air as loved ones expressed their sorrow and anguish.

Later, Shah visited the Baisaran meadow, the actual site of the terror attack, which has now transformed from a serene tourist destination into a symbol of national mourning and defiance.

Valley-Wide Shutdown

In solidarity with the victims, political parties and traders’ unions across the Kashmir Valley called for a complete shutdown on Wednesday. The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC), PDP, and various civil society groups condemned the attack and joined hands in mourning.

The Pahalgam attack, one of the most brutal incidents since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, has not only shaken the region but also sparked a national conversation about the safety of civilians and tourists in the valley.

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As search operations continue in the Anantnag region, the mood in Kashmir remains tense. For now, the scenic beauty of Pahalgam stands overshadowed by grief, fear, and a desperate hope for justice and peace.