In the aftermath of the devastating terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives, harrowing stories of survival and loss continue to emerge. One such heart-wrenching account comes from Arathi, a woman from Kerala who lost her father, N Ramachandran, in the brutal assault while on a family vacation.
Ramachandran, a 65-year-old retired Gulf expat, was traveling with his wife, daughter Arathi, and grandchildren when the gunfire erupted in the Baisaran meadow area of Pahalgam. Arathi, still visibly shaken, recalled the terrifying moments that unfolded before her father was killed.
“On hearing a gunshot, I asked my father what that sound was. He said he wasn’t sure. As we heard more gunshots, we started to run. We saw other people also running. It was chaos,” she told reporters. “Suddenly, we saw a man coming with a gun. He asked a group something and then started shooting at them. I told my father that the man was coming towards us. My father remained calm and said, ‘Let’s see what happens.’”
Arathi explained that the gunman demanded they say a word—‘Kalma’—and when they couldn’t respond, he shot her father.
“His death is a terrible loss to our local community,” said a friend of Ramachandran. “He had been leading a peaceful retired life in Kerala after spending nearly two decades working in the Gulf. His son is based in Bengaluru and his daughter lives in Dubai.”
Despite the trauma, Arathi acknowledged the support they received. “Kashmiris are very helpful. Both the Central and J&K governments helped us a lot,” she added.
Among the other victims were a newlywed Indian Navy lieutenant, two tourists from Kolkata, two from Karnataka, and one local resident. This attack is being called one of the deadliest against civilians in Kashmir since the 2019 Pulwama strike.
The Indian government has since taken strong diplomatic and security measures, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty with Pakistan and convening an all-party meeting to discuss the nation’s response.
As families grieve and the nation mourns, stories like Arathi’s shed light on the human cost of terrorism and the enduring spirit of those who survive it.
Sources By Agencies
