Srinagar

One killed and at least 20 tourists were injured in a terrorist attack in Pahalgam in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, officials said.

The attack took place at Baisaran, a meadow accessible only by foot or ponies, where a group of tourists had gone visiting this morning, they said.

According to an eyewitness, unidentified gunmen opened fire on the tourists from close range, resulting in injuries to several persons.

"My husband was shot in the head while seven others were also injured in the attack," a woman survivor told PTI over phone.

The woman did not identify herself but pleaded for help in evacuating the injured to the hospital.

Authorities pressed a chopper into service for the evacuation of the injured, the officials said, adding some of the wounded were brought down from the meadows by local people on their ponies.

A doctor at the Pahalgam hospital said 12 injured tourists were admitted there and the condition of all of them was stable.

A little earlier, security forces rushed to Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam tourist town after sounds of gunfire were heard, a senior police official said here.

ALSO READ: India-Saudi partnership has timeless potential: PM Modi to Arab News

The incident comes when Kashmir is witnessing a surge in tourist arrivals after reeling under militancy for years.

Also, the 38-day Amarnath pilgrimage is scheduled to begin on July 3. Lakhs of pilgrims from across the country travel to the cave shrine from the twin routes -- the traditional 48-km Pahalgam route in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district and the 14-km shorter but steep Baltal route in Ganderbal district.

Amit Shah rushes to Srinagar; vows to hunt down perpetrators

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Amit Shah following a terror attack on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam and asked him to take all suitable steps to deal with the situation, the Home Minister has left for Srinagar where he would review the security situation with all agencies.

He vowed to come down heavily on the perpetrators of the attack. 

Shah said he has briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently in Saudi Arabia, about the incident and held a meeting with the officials concerned via video conferencing after the terror attack.

"Anguished by the terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. My thoughts are with the family members of the deceased. Those involved in this dastardly act of terror will not be spared, and we will come down heavily on the perpetrators with the harshest consequences.

"Briefed PM Shri @narendramodi Ji about the incident and held a meeting with the concerned officials via video conferencing. Will shortly leave for Srinagar to hold an urgent security review meeting with all the agencies," Shah wrote on 'X'.

Anguished by the terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. My thoughts are with the family members of the deceased. Those involved in this dastardly act of terror will not be spared, and we will come down heavily on the perpetrators with the harshest consequences.…

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 22, 2025

Condemning the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on X, “I strongly condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected. Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice...they will not be spared! Their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will get even stronger.”

I strongly condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected.

Those behind this heinous act will be brought…

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 22, 2025

The incident occurred at around 3 PM when terrorists came down from the mountain in Baisaran Valley and started firing at the tourists.

A purported video of the attack site emerged showing several people bleeding and lying motionless on the ground while women tourists were wailing and frantically looking for their near and dear ones. No independent official verification was available.

The incident comes when Kashmir is witnessing a surge in tourist arrivals after reeling under militancy for years. Also, the 38-day Amarnath pilgrimage is scheduled to begin on July 3.

Authorities pressed a chopper into service for the evacuation of the injured persons, the officials said adding some of the injured were brought down from the meadows by local people on their ponies.

J-K CM Omar calls perpetrators 'animals'

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed shock over the terror attack on tourists in the Pahalgam hill resort and described the perpetrators as “animals, inhuman and worthy of contempt”.

He hinted large number of casualties, saying the attack is “much larger than anything we have seen directed at civilians in recent years”.

Abdullah said the death toll is still being ascertained.

“I’m shocked beyond belief. This attack on our visitors is an abomination. The perpetrators of this attack are animals, inhuman & worthy of contempt. No words of condemnation are enough,” the chief minister said in a post on X.

I’m shocked beyond belief. This attack on our visitors is an abomination. The perpetrators of this attack are animals, inhuman & worthy of contempt. No words of condemnation are enough. I send my sympathies to the families of the deceased. I’ve spoken to my colleague @sakinaitoo…

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) April 22, 2025

The death toll is still being ascertained so I don’t want to get in to those details. They will be officially conveyed as the situation becomes clearer. Needless to say this attack is much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years.

— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) April 22, 2025

Extending his sympathies to the injured, Abdullah said he had spoken to his colleague and health minister Sakina Itoo and she has moved to the hospital to oversee arrangements for the injured.

“I’ll be flying back to Srinagar immediately. The death toll is still being ascertained so I don’t want to get in to those details. They will be officially conveyed as the situation becomes clearer. Needless to say this attack is much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years,” he said.