Kerala High Court Judges Escape Pahalgam Terror Attack by Hours

Three Kerala High Court judges and their families narrowly avoided Tuesday’s deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, having departed the area just hours before the incident that claimed more than 25 lives.

Justices Anil K. Narendran, G. Girish, and P.G. Ajithkumar were vacationing with their families in Jammu and Kashmir when terrorists struck the popular tourist destination on April 22, 2025. The eight-member group had arrived in the state on April 17 and spent Monday, April 21, exploring Pahalgam’s attractions.

The judges’ party left Pahalgam at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday morning, just hours before the attack, which reportedly occurred around noon. They reached Srinagar safely by 2 p.m.

“The weather was pleasant and we covered most of the spots of tourist attraction, including a few temples, on Monday itself. The driver of the vehicle, who took us around, had offered to take us to more tourist spots in the area. However, I insisted on returning to Srinagar today itself to take a boat ride in Dal Lake as I had visited the area earlier, and we reached Srinagar safely,” Justice Narendran told The Hindu from Srinagar.

At their Srinagar hotel, the judges encountered someone who had escaped the attack. “We met a person at the hotel in Srinagar who narrowly escaped the terrorist attack. He was all shaken by the attack,” Justice Narendran recounted.

Justice Ajithkumar added, “We will leave for Kerala shortly.”

News of the judges’ presence in the region caused alarm in legal circles until confirmation of their safety was received.