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At least two dozen people have been killed after gunmen opened fire on a group of domestic tourists visiting a popular beauty spot in Indian-administered Kashmir, authorities have told the BBC.<\/p>\n
The attack took place in Pahalgam, a picturesque town in the Himalayas often described as the “Switzerland of India”.<\/p>\n
The region’s chief minister, Omar Abdullah, said the attack was “much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years”. Reports suggest that there are a large number of wounded, with some in critical condition. <\/p>\n
US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin and EU chief Ursula Von der Leyen were among world leaders who condemned the attacks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
“Deeply disturbing news out of Kashmir. The United States stands strong with India against Terrorism,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.<\/p>\n
Von der Leyen called the Kashmir deaths a “vile terrorist attack”, while Putin expressed “sincere condolences” for the consequences of a “brutal crime”.<\/p>\n
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi – who cut short his trip to Saudi Arabia in the wake of the attack – said the perpetrators would “be brought to justice”.<\/p>\n
“Our resolve to fight terrorism is unshakeable and it will get even stronger,” Modi wrote in a statement on X.<\/p>\n
Home <\/b>Minister Amit Shah travelled to Srinagar, Kashmir’s largest city, on Tuesday to hold an emergency security meeting.<\/p>\n
The region’s Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, said the army and police had been deployed to the scene. <\/p>\n
No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. There has been a long-running insurgency in the Muslim-majority region since 1989, although violence has waned in recent years.<\/p>\n
The attack took place in Baisaran, a mountain-top meadow three miles (5km) from Pahalgam. <\/p>\n
Vehicles are unable to reach the area where the shooting occurred, Inspector General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Vidi Kumar Birdi told BBC Hindi.<\/p>\n
A tourist from Gujarat, who was part of a group that was fired upon, said that chaos broke out after the sudden attack, and everybody started running, crying and shouting.<\/p>\n
Video footage shared by Indian media outlets <\/b>appears to show Indian troops running towards the scene of the attack, while in other footage victims can be heard saying that the gunmen had singled out non-Muslims. <\/p>\n
Footage on social media, which has not been verified by the BBC, appears to show bodies lying on a meadow with people crying and pleading for help.<\/p>\n
Police said multiple tourists had been taken to hospital with gunshot wounds. The area has been cordoned off and soldiers are stopping vehicles at checkpoints. A joint search operation by the Indian army and Jammu and Kashmir police is ongoing.<\/p>\n
Several protests have been organised for Wednesday, according to Indian media.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n