At least 28 tourists were killed when a group of armed men did armed attack In a popular local tourist destination in its Kashmir Indiaduring a scheduled four -day visit to the country of US Vice President Jay Di Vance.
The attack took place in the Baisaran Valley in India, a picturesque meadow in Pahalgam, a well -known tourist city located 90 kilometers south of Srinagar, the main city of the area, in which officials describe as the most lethal attack on civilians in the area in recent years.
At about 15:00 noon local time, a group of armed men, apparently approaching tourists from the direction of the nearby mountains, was “thrown” by a dense pine forest near the area.
Graphic videos posted by locals on social media showed injured tourists lying in blood pondswhile their relatives they screamed and begged for help. Due to the lack of road access to the area, helicopter services were developed to remove the injured.
Describing the scene, a local guide told the AFP news agency that he had arrived after hearing shots and carried some of the injured, horse -drawn.
This isn’t just an attack on tourists, it’s an attack on humanity and Valley’s peace. They’re once again trying to bring chaos to the Kashmir. The scenes from Pahalgam are heartbreaking. I urge the authorities to act fast. Justice must be delivered without delay. #pahalgamattack pic.twitter.com/Bm6rrDPMNs
– Mutahir Showkat (@mutahirxyz) April 22, 2025
“I saw some men lying on the ground and looking like dead,” said Waheed, who gave only one name. A surviving woman told PTI news agency: ‘My husband was shot in the headwhile another seven were also injured by the attack. “
THE Omar Abdullahthe leading elected official in the area, wrote on social media: “This attack is much greater than anything we have seen against civilians in recent years.”
Government officials said the dead are included tourists from Indian states Carnataka, Odissa and Gujarat and two foreign nationals. At least six others were injured.
The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Montiwho met with Vance the day before, condemned her “act».
“Those behind this abominable act will be led to justice … they will not be saved. Their bad agenda will never succeed. Our determination to We fight terrorism It is steadfast and it will only be strengthened, “he said in a report on X during a visit to Saudi Arabia.
The place of the attack was blocked As the police started a business for the detection of the perpetrators.
According to local police officials, two to three gunmen opened inquisitive fires against tourists in the area, which is only accessible on foot or horses before leaving the spot.
Speaking on India Today, a witness said: “The shot was right in front of us. At first we thought they were just crackers, but when we heard others scream, we hurried from there to save.”
Another witness, who also did not reveal his name, said: “We didn’t stop running for four kilometers … I still tremble».
Protests broke out in several areas of Kashmir, run by India, condemning the attack, with a rally led by right -wing vigilance in the city of Jamo accusing Pakistan.
A fighter team that defines itself as’Kashmir Resistance»He took responsibility for attacking a message on social media. The team cited the rage for the Indian establishment of more than 85,000 “external”, which said it was leading to a “demographic change” in the area.