New Delhi: On Tuesday, a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, resulted in the deaths of five tourists from Maharashtra, as reported by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s office. The attack claimed a total of 26 lives, primarily among tourists, and left at least 12 others injured. The assailants opened fire in a well-known meadow near Pahalgam town during the afternoon.
Eknath Shinde has called upon Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu to facilitate a special flight for the evacuation of stranded tourists from Maharashtra. Naidu has assured Shinde that efforts will be made to prioritize the transport of these individuals to Mumbai once their names are provided. The statement indicated that five tourists from Maharashtra perished in the recent Pahalgam attack, and Deputy Chief Minister Shinde discussed arrangements with Minister Naidu to return them to their home state.
Naidu agreed to the request, promising that a special flight would be organized to transport the stranded tourists back to Mumbai upon receiving their list. The incident, which specifically targeted tourists in the Anantnag district’s Pahalgam area, has drawn widespread condemnation from various political leaders across the nation.
Who were the victims from Maharashtra?
Among the victims from Maharashtra, three individuals—Hemant Joshi, Sanjay Lele, and Atul Mone—were identified as residents of Dombivli in Thane district.
Atul Mone served as a senior section engineer with Indian Railways. The administration of Thane district is providing assistance to the families affected by the tragedy and has released helpline numbers for residents stranded in Kashmir. Several tourists from Maharashtra were injured during the incident. The office of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis confirmed that individuals from Nagpur and Pune were among those hurt.
The Chief Minister has pledged that the Maharashtra government will offer comprehensive support to the impacted tourists. In a message on X, the Chief Minister’s Office reported, ‘A family from Nagpur was at the scene of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir. In response to the gunfire, they leapt from the mountains in fear, resulting in Simran Rupchandani slipping and fracturing her leg. Tilak and Garv Rupchandani were also present with her. Fortunately, all three are safe and have been contacted for necessary assistance.’ In a further update, the Chief Minister’s Office stated, ‘Santosh Jagdale from Pune suffered bullet wounds in the despicable terrorist attack in Kashmir and is currently receiving medical care. Reports indicate that his wife was also injured. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has communicated with their family members in Pune via phone, assuring them of the state’s full support.’
Security forces are maintaining heightened vigilance as investigations proceed to identify and capture those responsible for the attack. In response to the current situation, Air India and IndiGo have announced the addition of four extra flights from Srinagar to Delhi and Mumbai on Wednesday.
Air India announced via a post on X that due to the current circumstances, it will add two extra flights from Srinagar to Delhi and Mumbai on Wednesday, April 23. The airline further stated that all other flights to and from Srinagar will proceed as scheduled. Presently, Air India operates five daily flights between Delhi/Mumbai and Srinagar.
Additionally, the airline is providing complimentary rescheduling and full refunds for cancellations to passengers with confirmed bookings until April 30 for these routes. An IndiGo representative informed PTI that the airline will also introduce two additional flights on the same route.
IndiGo’s statement indicated that to support passengers traveling to or from Srinagar, it is offering waivers for cancellations or rescheduling, along with the addition of two flights from Mumbai and Delhi to Srinagar beyond the regular schedule. Concurrently, the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police have initiated a search operation in the Baisran area of Pahalgam, Anantnag, to locate the assailants. The Delhi Police have also been directed to enhance vigilance at tourist destinations and other significant locations.
