 "Pahalgam: A 15-minute bargain for cheaper pony ride saved 28 tourists from terror attack")
Over 20 tourists found themselves bargaining with horse owners in Kashmir for 15 minutes on April 22. Already annoyed by the snag in their itinerary, their plans to reach Pahalgam were further delayed as they had to wait for the horses to arrive. But little did they know that it was worth the wait.
A group of 28 tourists hailing from Kolhapur, Sangli, Pune, and Ratnagiri had reached Kashmir on April 17 for a holiday in Baisaran Valley. Now, they are recalling how they narrowly escaped the terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people.
According to a report by the Times of India, one of the tourists from the group, Anil Kurane from Kolhapur, recalled that a 15-minute-long bargaining session with pony owners, coupled with another 15-minute wait for the horses, ensured that they were not at the terror attack spot.
“If it wasn’t for the delay, we would have been at the spot when the terror attack took place. The list of casualties would have had our names too,” Kurane said.
The story of their close call does not end here. The group from Maharashtra eventually rode the horses to make their way to the site of the attack, only to be stopped by their local driver who came running, saying, “Wait! There is firing going on at the site. Do not go there.” The tourists did not waste a minute turning back and returning safely. Another tourist from the group, Shivprakash Chougule, said, “We had booked a stay at a hotel in Pahalgam for Tuesday night. But it was in a forest area, so we didn’t feel safe. We decided to go to Srinagar instead.”
Bodies of tourists reach hometowns
On Wednesday, the bodies of the 26 tourists killed in the Pahalgam terror attack reached their respective hometowns.
The victims included tourists from across India as well as one Nepali national. Their remains were initially transported in coffins to Srinagar, where Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid tribute by laying wreaths. From there, the bodies were flown to their respective hometowns.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsTo facilitate this, airlines operated over 50 flights from Srinagar, ensuring the return of the victims and providing transport for 123 grieving family members who accompanied them to their final destinations.
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