Karnataka Family Recounts Terrifying Escape from Deadly Pahalgam Attack

A software engineer from Karnataka, Prasanna Kumar Bhat, shared a gripping account of his family’s narrow escape from the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives on April 22, 2025. In a detailed post on X, Bhat described the chaos and fear that engulfed the Baisaran meadow, a popular tourist spot known as ‘Mini Switzerland,’ during the assault.

Bhat, accompanied by his family and 35 to 40 other tourists, was in the meadow when the attack began. His brother, a retired Indian Army officer, quickly recognized the gunfire as a terrorist assault after spotting two bodies on the ground. As panic erupted, with gunshots and screams filling the air, most tourists fled toward the meadow’s gate, unaware that the attackers were waiting there. Bhat and his group, guided by his brother’s instincts, took a different route, running toward a nearby fence.

The family crawled under the fence and sought refuge in a shallow pit, where they hid for hours, uncertain of their safety. Bhat recalled the overwhelming fear of not knowing whether to stay hidden or flee, all while worrying about loved ones left behind. The group remained in the pit until the firing subsided, eventually making their way to safety.

Reflecting on the ordeal, Bhat expressed gratitude for his brother’s quick thinking and the Indian Army’s role in their survival. He offered prayers for the victims and called for justice, hoping no one else endures such terror. The family has since returned safely to Mysuru, but the trauma of the attack lingers.

The Pahalgam attack, one of the deadliest in recent years, has prompted widespread condemnation and intensified security measures across the region.