“Kashmir Horror: A Family’s Narrow Escape from Terror”

On what should have been a peaceful day amidst Kashmir’s breathtaking beauty, terror struck in the serene meadows of Baisaran, Pahalgam, sending tourists fleeing for their lives. Among the terrified visitors was Prasanna Kumar Bhat, a software engineer from Mysuru, who, along with his family, found themselves in a desperate fight for survival.

Bhat, who had delayed his trip by two days due to poor weather, arrived at Pahalgam at 12:30 pm on April 22. After a scenic pony ride, the family reached Baisaran valley at 1:35 pm. They were captivated by the magnificent view and sat down for tea, blissfully unaware of the horror that awaited them.

At 2:25 pm, gunshots shattered the calm. Panic spread swiftly as Bhat and his family sought shelter behind a mobile toilet, watching as two bodies lay on the ground. Realizing it was a terrorist attack, Bhat’s brother, an Army officer, swiftly organized a group of terrified tourists. They managed to escape through a small opening in the fence, avoiding a direct confrontation with the terrorists.

The group hid in a pit under trees, waiting in fear, unable to contact help due to a lack of mobile coverage. It wasn’t until around 3:40 pm that the sound of helicopters brought hope, followed by Army soldiers offering protection. Though shaken and traumatized, the survivors were safely escorted down, their minds haunted by the horrific events.

The Bhat family returned to Mysuru, forever scarred by the terror they had narrowly escaped.

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