Bhubaneswar: An Odia tourist was killed in a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which left at least 20 people dead on Tuesday afternoon. The deceased Odia resident has been identified as Prasant Satpathy from the Remuna area in Balasore district.
Anantnag police confirmed his death in a telephonic call to his relative in Balasore. However, the local police have no information about Satpathy’s wife and 11-year-old son, who accompanied him on the trip.
The body of Prasant Satpathy is with the police in Jammu. After the terror attack, Anantnag police issued a helpline number and established a 24/7 help desk. The police control room in Anantnag has been set up to assist tourists requiring assistance or information, with contact details: 9596777669, 01932225870, and WhatsApp 9419051940.
The relative of Prasant Satpathy contacted the helpline to ascertain his condition, and the local police confirmed his death.
Meanwhile, Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi condemned the ‘cowardly attack on tourists.
“Strongly condemn the cowardly attack on tourists in #Pahalgam, South Kashmir. Violence has no place in our society. Heartfelt condolences to those who lost their lives. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured. Odisha stands in solidarity with the victims and their families during this difficult time,” Majhi posted on ‘X’.
The terror strike resulted in the deaths of tourists and local residents. The attack occurred during a peak tourist season in the Kashmir Valley, with hotels in Srinagar, Pahalgam, Gulmarg, and Sonamarg reporting full occupancy.
According to reports, 2-3 terrorists wearing army fatigues fired at horse-riding tourists in the Baisran area around 2:30 pm. Baisran is a small meadow 3-4 km from the Pahalgam market, accessible only by horseback. Sources fear the casualty figure may rise. This is the first major terror attack targeting tourists in the Kashmir Valley in 2025, sending shockwaves through the region. Security has been heightened across the Anantnag district and nearby tourist zones, with reinforcements deployed and a search operation underway to track down any remaining threats.
