26 Tourists Shot Dead in a Popular Kashmir Destination

At least 26 tourists were killed and 10 others injured after gunmen opened fire at Baisaran Valley, a well-known tourist spot in Pahalgam, Kashmir. The attack happened on Tuesday afternoon while the area was crowded with visitors. Most of the victims were from various parts of India, while two foreign nationals were also among the dead.

The attack took place around 3 PM, when a group of armed men reportedly emerged from a forested area near the valley and began shooting indiscriminately at tourists. Witnesses say panic spread fast, with people running for safety as bullets rang out in the quiet hillside meadow.

Helicopters Rushed to Evacuate Victims

Since Baisaran is only accessible by foot or horseback, helicopters had to be used to airlift the wounded. Videos shared on social media showed horrifying scenes of injured people lying on the ground, while others screamed for help.

A local tour guide said he helped carry injured tourists on horseback before helicopters arrived. “I saw people motionless on the ground. Some looked like they were already dead,” he said.

Personal Accounts from Survivors

One woman who survived the attack said her husband was shot in the head. “Seven others around us were injured too,” she told reporters. Another witness said, “At first we thought it was fireworks. Then we saw people screaming. We just ran.”

Group Claims Responsibility

A group identifying itself as "Kashmir Resistance" claimed responsibility in a post on social media. The group said it was protesting against the settlement of more than 85,000 “outsiders” in the region—a move allowed by the Indian government since it scrapped Kashmir’s autonomous status in 2019.

This change enabled non-locals to acquire property and jobs in the region, something many Kashmiris oppose.

Security Tightens, Search Underway

The area was sealed off immediately after the shooting. Indian army and paramilitary forces were deployed to hunt down the attackers, believed to be two to three individuals who fled into nearby forests.

The region has seen fewer attacks on tourists in recent years, but this incident marks a grim turn in the ongoing conflict.

Tensions Rise in Kashmir

The attack sparked protests in other parts of Indian-administered Kashmir. Right-wing groups in Jammu held rallies blaming Pakistan, which also claims the Kashmir region.

Though the level of violence in Kashmir had dropped over the past few years, tensions remain high. Militants have mostly targeted security forces and local officials, making this attack on tourists a sharp escalation.

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