On April 22, 2025, the quiet meadows of Baisaran close to Pahalgam transformed into a horrific scene. Armed militants from the Resistance Front (TRF) opened fire on unsuspecting tourists, killing 28 people and injuring over 20.

Survivors recount the events that followed. One woman from Karnataka narrated her experiences: "My husband was charred by gunfire in the face, and seven others were shot too." Another survivor revealed that they were asked by the assailants to recite scriptural texts in the wake of the attack. 

Many victims came from different states of India, among them Maharashtra, Karnataka, and West Bengal. A newlywed Navy officer from Haryana and an Intelligence Bureau official from Telangana are in the list of the deceased. Besides them, an additional two foreign nationals, who are from Nepal and the UAE, respectively, perished. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia upon condemning the attack by stating, "Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice... they will not be spared!" Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Srinagar to assess the situation. A massive manhunt is underway by security forces. 

The shocking event has sent waves of shock across the country and the entire world. Pilot of President Droupadi Murmu has expressed her sympathies on what she termed as "shockingly painful events." Even foreign leaders, including US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, condemned the attack. 

Countries also mourn the loss of innocent lives and wonder again at the resurgence of terror in a region that has seen a steep decline in violence in the last few years, as investigations go on.