National: What began as a serene family vacation in the idyllic meadows of Baisaran, known as the ‘Mini Switzerland’ of Kashmir, ended in heartbreak and horror for Arathi R Menon, a native of Kochi. The tranquil beauty of Pahalgam was shattered by gunfire as terrorists launched a sudden and brutal attack, claiming the life of her father, N Ramachandran, and leaving a lasting scar on a family that had only just arrived in the valley.
Speaking to reporters after returning to Kerala, Menon, still visibly shaken, described the terrifying moments of the assault. She was walking along a grassy trail with her 65-year-old father and her six-year-old twin sons when they were caught in the ambush. “At first, we thought it was fireworks,” she recalled, her voice trembling. “Then came the second shot—I knew it was a terror attack.”
As panic gripped the tourists in the meadow, Menon made a desperate attempt to flee. Her mother, Sheela, had stayed behind in the car and was spared the immediate horror. But for Menon and her young sons, the peaceful day unraveled into chaos. “We tried to escape under the fence, but a man came out of the woods. He looked at us and spoke something we didn’t understand,” she said. When they responded in English, he opened fire. Her father collapsed beside them.
Menon remembered seeing at least two attackers, dressed in civilian clothing. Instinctively, she grabbed her children and ran into the forest, relying on pony footprints to guide her through the unfamiliar terrain. She wandered for nearly an hour, frantically searching for a mobile signal.
Salvation came in the form of their driver, Musafir, and a local resident, Sameer, who responded to her call for help. “They were like my brothers. They stayed with me, stood by me during every formality, and didn’t leave me till 3 AM,” Menon said, tears flowing. “I have two brothers in Kashmir now. May Allah protect them.”
The aftermath was just as harrowing. Menon faced the agonizing responsibility of shielding her mother from the truth, pretending for two days that Ramachandran was still alive while making arrangements to bring his body home. “I had to be strong. I couldn’t afford to break down,” she said.
The family had landed in Kashmir on April 21, their first ever visit to the region. It was meant to be a dream vacation. But for Menon, that dream transformed into a nightmare on April 23, the day her father was killed and her children witnessed a tragedy no child should ever see.
Ramachandran’s mortal remains were brought back to Kochi on Wednesday evening. His final rites are scheduled to take place at Edappally public crematorium at 11 AM on Friday, following a public homage at Changampuzha Park.
Tuesday’s attack in Pahalgam claimed 26 lives, most of them tourists. For Arathi R Menon, Kashmir’s breathtaking landscape is now etched with the memory of loss—a place where her family’s story turned from joy to grief in a single, irreversible moment.
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