Pahalgam mourns victims after tragedy

Pahalgam, Apr 26: On April 22, Ismail Ahmad was buying groceries in the Pahalgam market, teeming with tourists and locals, when he suddenly sensed tension in the air as people began running frantically.

Soon, news of an attack on tourists in Baisaran spread through the area.

For a few moments, Ahmad could not figure out anything as if he was caught in a wave of confusion and fear, rather unsure of what was happening around him.

ìFirst, I didnít believe it as it had never happened in our area,î Ahmad said.

As he hurried along the road, the atmosphere grew heavier.

Shops were shut down, people getting antsy, and whispers of attack resonated on the streets.

ìIt was beyond our belief. We couldnít do anything, but start praying rigorously for the safety of tourists,î Ahmad said.

A pony handler, Ahmad has been carrying tourists to sightseeing destinations in Pahalgam for the last many years to earn a living.

In his village, which has around 90 households, most residents rely on giving pony rides to the tourists during the peak tourist season and the annual Amarnath Yatra as their primary source of income.

The recent tourist attack has drawn curtains on their business in the area.

However, the residents seem to be more concerned about the tourists.

ìThey were our guests and nobody will ever want to see their guests return home in body bags,î Ahmad said.

Since the terror attack, the village has been in deep mourning, grieving the loss of tourists whose lives were cut short.

ìNo one in the village ate the day the tragedy struck. We are still in shock and mourning the loss of our guests,î Ahmad said.

Another pony operator said that the tragedy cast a shadow of grief over the entire area.

ìIt is not only about our livelihood but also about the precious human lives,î another resident said.

In neighbouring Laripora village, the sorrow is unmistakable.

The tragedy has left people grieving.

ìWe have nothing to say. Everything is before you. I have never seen a tragedy of this magnitude,î said Muhammad Rafiq, a resident.

He said that they kept praying for normalcy to return soon.

"We want this place to be full of tourists again,î Rafiq said.