Keralite suspected to be among Pahalgam victims

An elderly man from Kochi was suspected to be among those killed in the terrorist attack at a prime tourist location of Pahalgam in South Kashmir on Tuesday.

However, the report was yet to be officially confirmed. District Police Chief (Kochi City) Putta Vimaladitya said the deceased was identified as Ramachandran, 65, of Palarivattom, according to initial reports received through unofficial channels.

“He had reportedly gone on a trip with his family on Monday. Reportedly, no other family member was hurt. We are verifying further details. We are yet to receive any official information from the Defence Ministry though,” said Mr. Vimaladitya.

The deceased and family lived on Mangattu Road in the Dhevankulangara division of Kochi Corporation. Reportedly, the deceased, along with his wife, Sheela Ramachandran, their daughter Aarathy and their seven-year-old twins, had left for Kashmir via Hyderabad on Monday.

Meena Menon, Ms. Ramachandran’s sister, who lives in Thripunithura, was watching news channels about the horrific attack when she received a panic-stricken call from Ms. Aarathy, who, through her sobs, said that her father was among the ones gunned down. Ms. Aarthy’s husband is in Dubai while her brother is in Bengaluru.

“She said that her father was shot in front of her very eyes and that she and her twin children had fled for their lives. She said her mother was not with them at the time of the attack, as she stayed back to avoid the steep climb to the spot where the attack took place. My sister is yet to be informed about the tragedy,” said Ms. Menon, whose repeated attempts to contact Ms. Aarathy thereafter failed.

Shantha Vijayan, Dhevankulangara division councillor, said she happened to know about Mr. Ramachandran and the family’s visit to Kashmir quite accidentally while attending an executive committee meeting of Edappally Central NSS Karayogam on Monday. “Mr. Ramachandran’s brother Rajagopal is a committee member, and he attended the meeting before he left for the U.S. by a late-night flight on Monday. During the meeting, he, in jest, told us that while he was going to the U.S., his brother and family had left for Kashmir,” said Ms. Vijayan, who also serves as vice-president of the Karayogam.

Thrikkakara MLA Uma Thomas has condoled the death of Mr. Ramachandran. “Efforts are under way to communicate with his family members who are still in Pahalgam.. I extend my heartfelt condolences to all those who lost their lives in this brutal attack and to their grieving families,” she said.

Naval officer killed

An Indian Navy officer, Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, 26, who was posted in the Southern Naval Command in Kochi, too was among the victims of the Pahalgam attack. A native of Haryana, he got married on April 16.

Lt. Narwal and his wife were on a honeymoon trip to Kashmir when the tragedy occurred. Further details are awaited.