A terrorist attack in the popular tourist destination of Pahalgam, located in the Anantnag district of Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, has resulted in the tragic loss of at least 26 lives, with 10 others injured. The attack targeted tourists, with a particular focus on men, as attackers separated the women and specifically aimed at the male visitors.

Among the victims was a newlywed naval officer, Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, who had traveled to Kashmir with his wife for a vacation just days after their wedding. Lieutenant Narwal, 26, had married on April 16, and was killed on April 19 in the attack. His sudden death has left his family and community in shock.

One of the survivors, Pallavi from Shivamogga, Karnataka, recounted the horrifying moment the attackers opened fire on her group. Her husband, Manjunath, was killed in front of her while he was buying bread for their son, who had not eaten since morning. She explained, "We thought the sound of gunfire was coming from the army. But then people started running, and I saw my husband bleeding from a gunshot wound to his head."

Pallavi also described how she and her son, standing before the terrorists, pleaded to be killed as well, but the attackers, who were not in military uniforms, reportedly told them, "We won't kill you. Tell Modi." The attackers focused primarily on the men, according to Pallavi.

The incident has left the families of those involved devastated, particularly Lieutenant Narwal's family. His neighbor shared that just days before his death, the young officer had been celebrating his wedding, a joyful occasion that had turned to sorrow.

The attack also claimed the lives of five tourists from Maharashtra, as confirmed by the state’s Deputy Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde. In response to the incident, Shinde urged the Central Minister of Civil Aviation to arrange special flights to bring back the stranded tourists.

Following the attack, protests and demonstrations broke out across India in solidarity with the victims. Candlelight marches were held in Baramulla, Srinagar, Poonch, Kupwara, and Jammu, and the Bajrang Dal organization also organized protests in Jammu.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly condemned the attack, stating, "Those responsible for this barbaric act will be brought to justice. Their heinous acts will not succeed, and our stance against terrorism will be stronger than ever."

In the wake of the attack, India’s Home Minister, Amit Shah, traveled to Srinagar to hold a high-level security meeting. The Indian Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police have launched a search operation in the Bijbehara area of Pahalgam, and the Delhi Police have been instructed to increase surveillance at key tourist sites across the country.

Meanwhile, Pallavi, still grappling with the loss of her husband, remains uncertain about how his body will be returned to Shivamogga. She said, "We came here as a family of three, and we want to return as a family of three."

The attack in Pahalgam has once again drawn attention to the ongoing challenges faced in Kashmir, where terrorism continues to disrupt peace and tourism. The tragic loss of innocent lives has left many families in mourning, while the government vows to pursue those responsible with greater determination.