National: Rishi Bhatt, a tourist from Ahmedabad, Gujarat, has come forward with a chilling firsthand account of the April 22 terror attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam, describing scenes of panic, confusion, and unimaginable violence that claimed the lives of 26 civilians — most of them fellow tourists.
Bhatt was mid-air on a zipline when chaos erupted below. “I didn’t realise it for nearly 20 seconds,” he said. “Suddenly, I saw people on the ground being shot. I witnessed five to six individuals getting hit right in front of my eyes.” The serene setting turned into a battlefield in an instant, with unsuspecting families caught in the crossfire.
Moments before the gunfire began, Bhatt recalled hearing the zipline operator shout “Allahu Akbar” three times, a detail that he says raised serious suspicions about possible insider involvement. He further alleged that two families ahead of him were asked their religion before the attackers brutally gunned down the male members in front of horrified onlookers, including his wife and son.
Driven by instinct and urgency, Bhatt managed to unfasten his safety harness and leap down, rushing to protect his family. They found a pit-like area nearby where they hid with several other terrified tourists as the gunfire raged on for 8 to 10 minutes. When the firing subsided briefly, the group made a desperate run for the main gate — only for another round of shooting to break out, which Bhatt said resulted in 15 to 16 more people being shot as they fled.
The area, eerily deserted by locals in the aftermath of the attack, offered little refuge until a pony guide emerged and led Bhatt and others toward safety. They eventually reached Indian Army personnel, who had begun moving in rapidly to take control of the area. Bhatt praised the Army’s swift action, stating that within 20 minutes of their arrival, soldiers had secured the premises and ensured the safety of all remaining tourists.
Bhatt, while expressing his deep gratitude to the armed forces, also raised concerns about the lack of adequate security at the main ziplining zone. He noted that while Army presence was visible in the lower areas and surrounding forests, the attack site itself was guarded only by local police officers and a handful of private security guards — an alarming gap, given the scale of the tragedy that unfolded.
Read More: CoMSO Demands Probe into Alleged Massive MGNREGA Fraud in Meghalaya’s West Garo Hills