By Adé Yẹmí
A brutal gun attack in Kashmir’s famed Pahalgam resort has turned paradise into panic, leaving 26 people dead and prompting thousands of tourists to flee the picturesque valley.
On April 22, gunmen stormed a bustling tourist hub and opened fire without warning.
The massacre, the deadliest in the region since 2000, has shattered the peace efforts in India-administered Kashmir and sparked nationwide outrage.
Security forces swiftly launched a sweeping manhunt, combing the area with helicopters and heavily armed troops.
The once serene meadows were stained with blood and silence, now broken by the steady march of soldiers and the hum of aerial surveillance.
The attack comes just as the Indian government had been touting a tourism revival in the region known as “Little Switzerland.”
More than three and a half million visitors had already poured into Kashmir this year, giving hope to local businesses and fueling a narrative of peace.
But the gunfire has brought that hope to a halt. “The valley is emptying out overnight,” said Abdul Salam, a hotelier in Srinagar. “We had full bookings till next month. Now, rooms are vacant and cancellations keep pouring in. This tragedy has destroyed our season.”
Despite a sharp decline in insurgent attacks since the revocation of Kashmir’s special status in 2019, the deadly assault has rekindled old fears and highlighted the fragile nature of security in the restive region.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called the exodus “heartbreaking,” while civil aviation authorities scrambled to arrange evacuation flights.
Air India was among the first to deploy extra aircraft, offering emergency departures for stranded travelers.
Still, some tourists chose to stay behind, touched by the hospitality of locals. “People here are wonderful,” said Paras Sawla, a visitor from Gujarat. “They are helping us with everything.”
As India points fingers at Pakistan for allegedly fueling unrest — a claim Islamabad strongly denies — the attack has reopened painful questions about the future of Kashmir, its security, and the delicate balance between peace and conflict.
