HM Shah, J&K leaders pay tribute to Pahalgam terror attack victims in Srinagar

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited the Police Control Room (PCR) in Srinagar on Wednesday to pay their respects to the tourists who lost their lives in the brutal terror attack in Pahalgam. The bodies of the deceased, who were killed in Tuesday’s ambush, were brought to the PCR earlier in the day as part of official arrangements to ensure their dignified return to their native states.

Following the tribute ceremony, Amit Shah is scheduled to visit the Government Medical College (GMC) in Anantnag to meet those injured in the attack. He is also expected to conduct an aerial survey of the site in Baisaran, Pahalgam, where the deadly attack unfolded.

In a coordinated effort to facilitate the repatriation of the victims’ bodies, the Civil Aviation Ministry has arranged four additional flights from Srinagar—two to Mumbai and two to Delhi. The ministry is also working to regulate airfares to prevent price surges amid the high demand for travel, as the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remains closed for the fourth consecutive day.

Meanwhile, a team from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrived in Srinagar on Wednesday. The NIA is set to visit Pahalgam to gather forensic evidence and leads on the perpetrators responsible for the heinous attack on unarmed civilians.

A massive search operation has been underway in the Pahalgam area since Tuesday evening, as security forces intensify efforts to track down the terrorists. The attack has drawn widespread condemnation from across the country and beyond, sparking candlelight vigils, protests, and calls for unity against terrorism.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while expressing his deep sorrow over the incident, stated that the attack has strengthened the nation’s resolve to eliminate terrorism from Indian soil.

In response to the tragedy, a total protest shutdown was observed across the Kashmir Valley on Wednesday. The bandh, called by traders’ unions, industrialists, political parties, and various social and religious organisations, brought normal life to a standstill. Commercial establishments, public transport, and educational institutions remained closed, and only sparse vehicular movement was seen on roads and highways.