In the aftermath of the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, Asavari Jagdale, a member of the Pune-based Jagdale family, shared her first emotional reaction after her father was shot during the attack. The family, vacationing in the scenic Baisaran Valley, was caught in the crossfire when terrorists opened fire on tourists, leaving many dead and injured.
Asavari, a 26-year-old human resource professional from Pune, recounted the terrifying incident that unfolded near the “Mini Switzerland” area of Baisaran. “My father was shot… I don’t know if he is alive or dead,” she told. The terrorists reportedly singled out her father, Santosh Jagdale, and her uncle, firing multiple bullets at them after demanding they recite an Islamic verse, which they could not.
The group had sought shelter in a tent when the terrorists approached, asking her father to come out. “They said, ‘Chaudhari tu bahar aa ja’,” Asavari recalled. The attackers also cursed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and accused them of supporting him before opening fire. While Asavari, her mother, and another female relative escaped unharmed, her father and uncle were critically wounded.
Locals and security forces evacuated Asavari and the other women to safety at the Pahalgam Club, but the fate of her father and uncle remains uncertain. “It has been hours, and we have no update on their condition,” she said, expressing anguish and helplessness.
The attack, which killed at least 26 tourists and injured many more, is one of the deadliest in Kashmir in recent years. Among the victims are members of Pune’s Jagdale and Ganbote families, originally from Baramati taluka, highlighting the personal toll on communities far from the conflict zone.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack, vowing that the perpetrators would be brought to justice. Union Home Minister Amit Shah immediately traveled to Srinagar to oversee security operations and ensure swift action against the terrorists. Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also strongly condemned the attack, calling it a “cowardly” and “barbaric” act.
Local authorities have launched anti-terror operations to hunt down the attackers, while emergency helplines have been set up for families of victims and injured tourists.
The Pahalgam attack struck at a time when Kashmir was witnessing a resurgence in tourism after years of militancy. The incident has cast a shadow over the region’s safety, raising concerns among travelers and prompting calls for enhanced security measures in tourist hotspots.
