Militants opened fire at a meadow near Kashmir’s Pahalgam town on Tuesday afternoon, killing 26 people, mostly tourists. The attack has been described as the deadliest attack in the Valley since the 2019 Pulwama strike.
As per a PTI report, a high-ranking official told the news agency that the 26 dead included two foreigners and two locals.
Track LIVE Updates of the Pahalgam attack here.
The official echoed the statement made by Chief MInister Omar Abdullah that the death toll is still being ascertained,.
Taking to X, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said that this terror attack is “much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years".
This attack in Pahalgam also comes on the second day of US Vice President JD Vance's visit to India. Officials added that the incident in Pahalgam took place at 3 PM.
Baisaran Valley is an expansive meadow ringed by dense pine forests and mountains and is a popular tourist destination. The valley is also often dubbed as "mini Switzerland.'
While officials still gather the official data, PTI added that the Resistance Front (TRF), shadow group of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group, claimed responsibility.
Officials added that it was possible the terror group could have crossed over from Kishtwar in Jammu and reached Baisaran through Kokernag in south Kashmir.
Following the news of the attack, Union Home Minister Amit Shah left New Delhi for Srinagar to assess the security situation.
