Several tourists feared dead, injured in Pahalgam terrorist attack: Report

STC NEWS MONITORING DESK
PAHALGAM, APRIL 22 (STC): Several tourists were feared dead and many others injured after terrorists opened fire on a group of tourists in upper reaches of tourist hotspot of Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district today.
The Chief Minister described the attack as “much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years.” He refrained from revealing the death toll, saying that the same is being still being ascertained.
The incident occurred at around 3 PM when terrorists came down from the mountain in Baisaran valley and started firing at the tourists who frequent the place which is often dubbed as ‘mini Switzerland’ because of its long lush green meadows.
Preliminary reports suggested that a distress call was received by the police from a female tourist from Pahalgam’s Baisaran forests. She informed that gunmen targeted trekkers in the area.
Reports reveal that authorities pressed a chopper into service for the evacuation of the injured persons. Quoting the officials, the report said some of the injured were brought down from the meadows by local people on their ponies.
Officials said several tourists suffered injuries in the attack. Security forces were rushed to the spot.
“My husband was shot in the head while seven others were also injured in the attack,” a woman survivor told PTI over phone. The woman did not identity herself but pleaded for help in evacuating the injured to hospital.
(Inputs from agencies)