India Mourns as 26 Killed in Kashmir Terror Attack; National Outrage and High-Level Response

In one of the deadliest terror attacks on civilians in recent years, twenty-six people were killed on Tuesday in Pahalgam, located in Jammu & Kashmir’s Anantnag district. The attack occurred at Baisaran, a remote meadow only accessible on foot or by pony, where a group of tourists had gathered. Heavily armed militants emerged from the nearby forest and opened fire indiscriminately, leaving a trail of death and chaos.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack, calling it a “heinous act” and vowed that those responsible would not escape justice. In a post on X, he emphasized that the “evil agenda of terrorism will never succeed” and assured the nation that the government’s fight against terrorism would only grow stronger. Modi also held a telephonic conversation with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, instructing him to take immediate action. Shah promptly flew to Srinagar and is expected to visit the attack site, as well as lead a high-level security review with central and state agencies.

Heart-wrenching accounts from survivors have emerged. One woman recounted how her husband was shot in the head and pleaded for help as authorities struggled to reach the area due to its inaccessibility. Emergency helicopters were deployed to airlift the injured. Another survivor, Pallavi Rao from Karnataka, revealed that terrorists killed her husband in front of their son and told her to survive to relay their message to Prime Minister Modi.

The national response has been swift and unified. President Droupadi Murmu described the attack as “unpardonable,” while Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar called it “reprehensible.” Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, along with other key political figures including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and JP Nadda, offered strong condemnation and support to the victims’ families. Israel’s Foreign Minister also expressed solidarity, calling the attack “heinous” and reaffirming support for India in the global fight against terror.

As security forces intensify search operations across Anantnag, military reinforcements have been rushed to the region. Northern Army Commander Lt Gen MV Suchendra Kumar is personally overseeing the response. The Anantnag Police have also issued a helpline for those seeking information about loved ones.

The Kashmir attack has reignited national debates on security, tourism, and cross-border militancy, as India mourns the loss of innocent lives and braces for the next steps in an intensifying fight against terrorism.