Delhi, Mumbai and more: How Pahalgam terror attack has put other cities on high alert

Shockwaves and concern spread across the country after at least twenty-six people were killed when terrorists opened fire at a popular tourist destination near Kashmir’s Pahalgam town on Tuesday.

It is the deadliest terror attack in the Valley since the Pulwama strike in 2019.

Among the 26 victims were two foreigners, one from the UAE and another from Nepal, as well as two locals, according to officials.

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Now, multiple regions across India have been placed on high alert, with heightened security measures, intensified checking, and increased surveillance.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi returned to Delhi early on Wednesday morning, cutting short his visit to Saudi Arabia following the terror attack.

In this explainer, we look at the cities placed on high alert, what officials have said, and the latest developments after the Pahalgam terror attack.

Terror attack in Pahalgam: List of Indian cities put on high alert

Delhi

Security has been tightened in the national capital in the wake of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam.

According to officials, Delhi Police have stepped up security across the city, with particular focus on tourist hubs and border checkpoints. Checking and surveillance have also been intensified.

Traffic movement has been regulated in areas considered sensitive, they added.

Local police forces have been directed to stay vigilant in high-footfall zones such as markets, railway stations, and the airport, The Indian Express reported.

The report also said that Delhi Police Special Cell’s SWAT commandos have been placed on alert to respond to any potential terrorist or hostage scenario in the capital.

This alert comes during the ongoing visit of US Vice President JD Vance, for which security in Delhi and other cities had already been strengthened.

Mumbai

Mumbai has also been placed on high alert.

Police patrolling was stepped up throughout the city, with surprise checks conducted throughout the night, senior police sources told The Hindu.

“All zones are on alert. Patrolling has been intensified. Surprise checks are being conducted,” a senior police officer told the newspaper.

The office of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said in a statement that five tourists from Maharashtra lost their lives in the attack.

Among the five deceased, three were from the Dombivli area in Thane district, according to the District Information Officer of Thane.

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Jammu

The attack took place near the Chatroo area of Kishtwar district, where security forces had killed three suspected foreign militants on April 10-11.

Jammu has now been placed on high alert.

In the Gujjar Nagar locality of Jammu city, members of the Muslim community gathered in large numbers to raise slogans against Pakistan. They said the attack was an attempt to tarnish the Kashmiri people’s reputation for hospitality, The Indian Express reported.

Political parties, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the ruling National Conference, have called for a shutdown across Jammu and Kashmir on Wednesday in protest.

Jaipur and Amritsar

A high alert has also been declared in Rajasthan’s Jaipur and Punjab’s Amritsar, hours after the attack.

Authorities have boosted security and intensified patrolling in both cities.

Pahalgam Terror Attack

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, upon his return to Delhi, held a briefing at the airport on Wednesday with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri to assess the situation.

Earlier on Tuesday, PM Modi condemned the attack on tourists by The Resistance Front (TRF) , a group linked to the Pakistan-supported Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), vowing that the terrorists responsible would not be spared.

In a post on X, he wrote, “I strongly condemn the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover at the earliest. All possible assistance is being provided to those affected.

Those behind this heinous act will be brought to justice…they will not be spared! Their evil agenda will never succeed. Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakable and it will get even stronger.”

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Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Tuesday expressed strong condemnation of the attack, describing it as an “abomination” and “the worst kind of inhuman act.”

“I’m shocked beyond belief. This attack on our visitors is an abomination. The perpetrators are animals, inhuman and worthy of contempt. No words of condemnation are enough,” Abdullah said on X.

He also said that the Pahalgam incident was “much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years”.

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said on Wednesday that he had spoken to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Omar Abdullah, and Congress’ J&K unit president Tariq Karra to get an update on the situation.

“The whole country is united against terrorism. Instead of making hollow claims of the situation being normal in Jammu and Kashmir, the government should now take accountability and take concrete steps so that such barbaric incidents do not happen in the future and innocent Indians do not lose their lives like this,” he wrote on X.

Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Srinagar on Tuesday evening and was briefed by Jammu and Kashmir Police Director General Nalin Prabhat and other senior officials.

Meanwhile, the Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police have launched a search operation in the Baisran area of Pahalgam, Anantnag, to locate those responsible for the attack.

With inputs from agencies