HORROR IN VALLEY 194 from distt stranded in J&K
   Date :24-Apr-2025

HORROR IN VALLEY 194 from distt stranded in JK
Condemning the attack on tourists in Pahalgam, members of Vishwa Hindu Parishad staged a protest at Badkas Chowk in Mahal, on Wednesday. (More reports on page 8) (Pic by Anil Futane) 
 
Staff Reporter :
 
District Administration issues helpline numbers n Collectorate makes contact, all safe 
 
The dastardly terror attack in Pahalgam has left the world shocked. Jammu & Kashmir had become a hot favourite among tourists in recent years and its popular spots would remain choc-o-bloc with tourists during peak summer season. When the attack took place on Tuesday, hundreds of people from Vidarbha, including 194 from Nagpur district, were also holidaying in Kashmir. What followed was frantic calls from family and friends to ensure that they were safe. Fortunately, they are safe and shall return to their hometowns soon. Nagpur District Collectorate, on Wednesday, issued a list of 194 tourists from Nagpur district, who are now in different parts of Jammu & Kashmir and trying to come back to their home town.
 
The Collectorate also confirmed that no casualty was reported among those from the district in this terrorist attack. The administration also issued a 24x7 helpline number -- 0712-2562668, 8860018817 -- for family members of stranded tourists who can contact to get details about their people. As per the information, district administration has been contacted by 220 tourists of the district so far. It was also confirmed that most of the tourists are stranded in Srinagar whereas some are in Jammu and other parts of J&K.
 
District administration is helping 24x7 to the families here and the tourists who want any assistance from the State Government for their safe return to the city. During the time of the attack, a Nagpur-based family was present in the affected area. Reacting to the sound of gunfire, the family attempted to flee by jumping down a hillside. In the process, one of the members of the family, Simran Rupchandnani sustained minor injuries after slipping. Fortunately, all three members of the family are now confirmed to be safe.
 
The district administration remains in close co-ordination with authorities in Kashmir to ensure the continued safety of Nagpur tourists and is actively monitoring the situation. Deshmukh talks to Katol families in Srinagar Anil Deshmukh, former Home Minister of Maharashtra, talked with two families of Katol who were present few kilometres away the spot where the Pahalgam terror attack took place. Deshmukh took the stock of their status and assured to provide all help they require in Kashmir. Deshbhratar and Waghmare families of Katol are safe and staying in their hotel in Kashmir. Both families confimed that they wee few kilometres away from the site when the terrorist attack took place.
 
 
Narrow escape for city’s Rupchandani family
 
 
Tilak, Simran and Garv Rupchandani, residents of Dayanand Park in Jaripatka area of the city, poured out their harrowing experience which they encountered during the terrorist attack with The Hitavada on Wednesday.
The family was in Baisaran Valley in Pahalgam of Jammu and Kashmir where the terror attack took place. They just came out of the tourist spot when they suddenly noticed the gun shots which triggered panic among the tourists.
Simran Rupchandani, with her husband and son, started running away from the site and suddenly, she fell and suffered a fracture on her leg in the chaos. Recounting the terrifying ordeal, Simran said, they were about to leave the valley when sudden gunshots shattered the peaceful atmosphere.
 
“We had come to experience the beauty of the Mini Switzerland of India, but in seconds, the scene turned into a nightmare. The sound of gunfire and screams echoed all around. I didn’t know what to do. My only instinct was to run towards the hills with my family,” she said. Her husband and son managed to pull her to safety and helped her reach a secure location away from the firing. “It was our luck that we left the spot couple of minutes before the start of the terror attack. We heard the gun shots which lasted till 10-15 minutes,” said Simran.