At least 24 people have been killed in a deadly shooting after gunmen opened fire on a group of domestic tourists in Pahalgam, a scenic hill town in Indian-administered Kashmir often dubbed the “Switzerland of India,” officials have confirmed to the BBC.
The incident occurred in Baisaran, a high-altitude meadow located about five kilometers from Pahalgam. The area is not accessible by vehicles, making emergency response efforts more challenging. Eyewitnesses described a scene of chaos as gunshots rang out, prompting people to run, cry, and scream in panic. A tourist from Gujarat recounted the terrifying moments as the group scattered in fear.
Authorities say many of the wounded are in critical condition, and video footage circulating on social media—yet to be verified—shows bodies lying on the grass with bystanders crying and pleading for help. Other clips aired by Indian media show security forces rushing toward the site.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack, calling it a “cowardly act of terror,” and vowed to bring those responsible to justice. “Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakeable and only getting stronger,” he stated on X (formerly Twitter).
Home Minister Amit Shah has since traveled to Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir, to oversee an emergency security meeting. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha confirmed that police and army units have been deployed to the area. A joint search operation is currently underway, and multiple checkpoints have been set up.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack, which is one of the worst in recent years targeting civilians. The Inspector General of Jammu and Kashmir Police, Vidi Kumar Birdi, confirmed that the terrain posed difficulties in reaching the victims quickly.
The attack appears to have targeted non-Muslim tourists, according to some of the injured, though this remains under investigation. The region has long been marred by a violent insurgency that began in 1989, leading to tens of thousands of deaths, including both civilians and security personnel.
While violence in Kashmir had declined in recent years, especially after the Indian government revoked the region’s partial autonomy in 2019, sporadic militant attacks continue to occur. This incident follows a June 2024 attack where nine Hindu pilgrims were killed and 33 others injured when militants opened fire on a bus.
Pahalgam is one of Kashmir’s most popular tourist destinations, drawing millions of visitors annually. In 2024 alone, around 3.5 million tourists visited the region. The Indian government has been actively promoting tourism in the valley as part of efforts to normalize the situation.
This latest tragedy, however, casts a dark shadow over those efforts and raises fresh concerns about safety in the area. Protests have been announced for Wednesday as public anger and fear mount. Security remains tight, especially in and around Anantnag, where many of the victims are being treated.
The broader conflict stems from the long-standing territorial dispute between India and Pakistan, both of whom claim Kashmir in full. The region was divided in 1947 during the partition of British India, and since then, the two nuclear-armed neighbors have fought two full-scale wars and several skirmishes over the area. India currently maintains a heavy military presence in the region, with around 500,000 troops stationed permanently.
As investigations continue and the nation mourns the loss of innocent lives, attention has once again turned to Kashmir’s fragile security environment and the urgent need for a long-term, peaceful solution.
