NEW DELHI: In the deadliest terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019, at least 28 tourists were gunned down and dozens injured on Tuesday afternoon in the Baisaran meadow, a popular scenic spot near the resort town of Pahalgam.
*Correction in list: Sr no 14 is from Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
The Resistance Front, a Pakistan-backed proxy of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has claimed responsibility for the ambush.
The gunmen—suspected to be six foreign operatives—were dressed in Indian Army uniforms and opened fire around 1.30pm, deliberately targeting tourists based on their faith, according to survivors. They reportedly asked victims to recite Islamic verses before opening fire from close range.
Attack Coincided With High-Profile Diplomatic Visits
The timing of the massacre appears significant, occurring on the same day US Vice-President JD Vance landed in India for a four-day visit and Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Saudi Arabia to bolster ties with the influential Islamic nation.
Just days earlier, Pakistan Army chief General Asim Munir had delivered a provocative speech, escalating tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.
Security analysts believe the attack was timed to attract global attention and portray Kashmir as a potential flashpoint requiring international intervention.
Lieutenant Vinay Narwal Among the Deceased
Among the victims was Lieutenant Vinay Narwal (26), an Indian Navy officer from Karnal, Haryana, who had been posted at the Southern Naval Command in Kochi. He was on leave following his wedding on April 16 and was honeymooning in Kashmir with his wife, Himanshi. While Narwal died from gunshot wounds to his chest, neck, and arm, the condition of his wife was yet to be confirmed at the time of reporting.
Narwal was the only son of Rajesh Narwal, a GST superintendent posted in Panipat. His family had last seen the couple during their post-wedding celebration held in Karnal on April 19. The young officer is survived by his parents and a younger sister.
Odisha Accountant Killed, Another Woman Injured
Another victim of the terror attack was Prasant Kumar Satpathy (41), a native of Isani village in Balasore district, Odisha. Satpathy, an accountant with the Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering & Technology (CIPET), had travelled to Kashmir on April 19 for a holiday with his wife Priyadarshini and their nine-year-old son. He was shot fatally in the head during the assault, Priyadarshini said.
Recalling the attack, she said they had just finished a ropeway ride and were visiting a restaurant nearby when the gunmen opened fire. “My husband fell in front of me with blood pouring from his head. I ran out for help and by the time I returned, Army personnel were already rushing him to hospital,” she recounted.
Odisha chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed deep sorrow over the incident, condemning the act as “heinous and brutal.” He directed officials in Delhi to ensure Prasant’s mortal remains are brought back home. Local authorities in Balasore, including the sarpanch of Sarang, said the deceased lived in a joint family with his parents and three brothers. Arrangements are being made in coordination with J&K officials to return the body.
Meanwhile, Shashi Kumari (65), another Odisha native and the wife of Ranjit Kumar, was among the injured. She is currently being treated at Government Medical College in Anantnag.
IB Officer From Hyderabad Shot In Front Of Family
An Intelligence Bureau officer posted in Hyderabad was among those killed in Tuesday’s terror attack while vacationing with his family in Kashmir.
Manish Ranjan, originally from Bihar, had been working in the ministerial section of the IB’s Hyderabad office for the past two years and was living in official residential quarters in the city. IB sources said he was shot dead in front of his family.
Ranjan had gone on leave for a summer break with his wife and children and had reached Kashmir on Sunday under a leave travel concession (LTC) plan. Initial reports suggest his wife and children survived the attack, though authorities were still verifying their condition.
Realtor From Shivamogga, Bengalurean Among Those Killed
Two tourists from Karnataka—Shivamogga realtor Manjunatha Rao and Bengaluru’s Bharat Bhushan—were among those killed in the Pahalgam massacre.
Rao, 46, was on his first-ever trip outside Karnataka with wife Pallavi and son Abhijit when terrorists opened fire on their tourist vehicle. He was shot dead instantly.
Speaking to a news channel, Pallavi said she begged the terrorists to shoot her and her son too after they gunned down her husband. “They told me, ‘Go tell Modi,’” she recounted, still in shock.
The family had booked the Kashmir tour through a travel agency, joining a group of tourists from Sagar taluk in Shivamogga. They had left on April 19 and were to return on April 24.
Rao hailed from Kunimakki village in Chikkamagaluru’s Koppa taluk but had lived in Shivamogga for the past two decades. His father was a manager at the Malnad Areca Marketing Co-operative Society (Mamcos), where Pallavi now works as the Birur branch manager.
His 80-year-old mother Sumathi, currently staying with relatives, has not yet been told of the tragedy. His sister Roopa lives in Thirthahalli, Shivamogga. Mamcos MD Srikanth Baruve spoke to Pallavi over the phone after the incident, while Shivamogga MP BY Raghavendra said Rao’s body would be brought back home on Wednesday.
Surat Resident Shailesh Kalathiya Killed Just Before His Birthday
Shailesh Kalathiya, 44, a bank officer from Surat, Gujarat, was tragically killed in the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025. The attack occurred just one day before his birthday. Kalathiya had been vacationing in Kashmir with his family, including his wife and children. The family had been enjoying a peaceful holiday when the terrorists launched their assault. Kalathiya’s wife and children were injured but are in stable condition. Other tourists from Gujarat were also injured in the attack.
Newlywed Lieutenant Vinay Narwal Dies in Terror Attack on Honeymoon
Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, aged 26, was on his honeymoon in Pahalgam with his wife Himanshi when he was fatally shot in the terror attack. The couple had been married just eight days before the tragic incident. Himanshi, who survived the attack, recounted the horrifying moments when the terrorists opened fire. Vinay was stationed at an army base in Jammu and had taken leave for his honeymoon. His death has left his family and colleagues devastated.
Kolkata Techie Bitan Adhikary Among Victims
Bitan Adhikary, 31, a techie based in Florida, was visiting his family in Kolkata when he was caught in the Pahalgam attack. Adhikary, who worked as a software developer in the United States, was in Kashmir with his wife Sohini and their young child. Bitan and his family had been planning to visit a few tourist spots in the region. Bitan was killed in the attack, while Sohini and their child survived but are recovering from injuries. The family’s tragic loss has sent shockwaves through both their home country and the tech community in Florida.
Business Couple from Nagpur Escape Attack
Tilak and Simran Roopchandani, a business couple from Nagpur, Maharashtra, were on vacation in Pahalgam when the attack occurred. They were just 20 minutes away from the site of the attack and narrowly escaped the terrorists’ wrath. While they were shaken by the incident, the couple is unharmed. They are now focusing on providing support to other survivors.
Victims from Maharashtra: Six Confirmed Dead, More Injured
At least six victims from Maharashtra were confirmed dead in the Pahalgam attack. Among the dead are Santosh Jagdale, 43, and Kaustubh Ganbote, 35, both of whom were from Pune. Several other victims from Mumbai and Panvel are being treated for injuries in hospitals across Kashmir. Authorities have also confirmed that some of the injured victims from Maharashtra are still in critical condition.
Visakhapatnam’s J Chandramouli Shot While Fleeing
J Chandramouli, a 60-year-old retired bank employee from Visakhapatnam, was also caught in the attack. He was shot by terrorists while attempting to flee the site of the assault. Chandramouli, who had been traveling with his wife and two grandchildren, was killed in the crossfire while trying to shield his family. His wife and grandchildren survived and are currently recovering in a local hospital.
Tourists from Karnataka, Gujarat, Haryana, and Bengal Among the Injured
In addition to the victims mentioned above, multiple tourists from various states were injured in the Pahalgam attack. A family from Karnataka, including a father and his daughter, were among those wounded but are said to be in stable condition. Two tourists from Gujarat, a mother and her son, also suffered injuries during the gunfire. Additionally, victims from Haryana and West Bengal were hospitalized for bullet wounds, though their conditions are not life-threatening.
Shubham Dwivedi Shot Dead While Horse Riding
Shubham Dwivedi’s ancestral village is located near Hathipur in the Mahrajpur police jurisdiction, though his immediate family resides in Vinayak Enclave, Chakeri. The family operates a business in building materials, including iron bars and cement. According to his cousin, Saurabh Dwivedi, Shubham, aged 31, had traveled to Jammu and Kashmir with his wife and 11 other family members on April 17. Shubham had recently married on February 13 of this year.
Around 3 pm, the family received distressing news that Shubham had been shot dead while horse riding. It was his wife, Shaniya, who first broke the tragic news to the family, informing them of the incident.
Indian Air Force Corporal from Arunachal Pradesh Among Victims of Pahalgam Terror Attack
Indian Air Force Corporal Tage Hailyang, from Tajang village in Lower Subansiri, Arunachal Pradesh, was tragically killed in the terrorist attack at Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir.
The Corporal, stationed at the Indian Air Force base in Srinagar, was in Pahalgam with his wife when the attack occurred. Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu expressed his sorrow, calling Hailyang a brave son of the state whose life was senselessly taken in the act of terror.
