April 22 turned into a tragedy no one saw coming. In a pre-planned terrorist attack at Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, gunmen opened fire on tourists, killing 16 people and injuring 10 others. Among the dead are three from Karnataka, including Manjunath, a businessman from Shivamogga, and Bharat Bhushan from Haveri.
The attack happened in Baisaran Valley, a popular hilltop known as “Mini Switzerland” of India. It’s one of the last places anyone would expect bullets instead of beauty. Sadly, it wasn’t the first time. Pahalgam has faced terror-related incidents before, but this one hit tourists directly—and brutally.
People were enjoying their summer holidays when bullets rained down. No warning, no reason. Survivors say the shooters targeted the crowd randomly. Families got split in seconds. Some watched their loved ones fall right in front of their eyes.
The Union Home Minister Amit Shah visited the site hours after the attack and called for an emergency security review. The J&K police have now released sketches of four suspects, and one photo of a terrorist has also gone public. A cash reward has been announced for any leads.
Security forces have sealed the area, and intelligence agencies are now checking how such a breach was even possible in a high-alert zone like Pahalgam.
The official list of deceased and injured individuals is expected shortly, and authorities say this is just the beginning of a much deeper investigation.
पहलगाम में हुए आतंकी हमले में 16 लोगों की मौत की सूची जारी कर दी गई है। 10 घायल के भी नाम…#PahalgamAttack #Pahalgam #JammuKashmir #TerriostAttack #PahalgamTerroristAttack pic.twitter.com/0U1AydepwS
— Sumit Kumar (@skphotography68) April 22, 2025
Fact most people don’t know: Pahalgam sits on one of the most closely monitored tourist routes in India due to its proximity to the Amarnath Yatra trail. Yet, this attack went undetected till it was too late.
This isn’t just another news story—it’s a brutal reminder that safety in tourist zones can’t be taken for granted anymore.