Pune Family’s Kashmir Vacation Turns into 40-Hour Nightmare Amid Terror Attack and Chaos

Pune, 25th April 2025: What was meant to be a peaceful vacation turned into a harrowing ordeal for a Pune family caught in the chaos following a terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. The group endured over 40 hours of fear, extortion, and uncertainty before safely returning to Mumbai.

The five-member group, led by Vijay Parge, President of the Pune Newspaper Vendors’ Association, had embarked on a trip to the picturesque Kashmir Valley on April 16. Their plans took a dark turn after three days of sightseeing, when a landslide blocked the highway during their return journey.

With the route closed by the Army for safety reasons, local hoteliers allegedly hiked up the prices of food and accommodation. “We were left with no support or alternatives and had to return to Pahalgam. The hotel staff showed no cooperation, and we were forced to spend the night under distress,” Parge recounted.

The situation escalated on April 21, when the group resumed their journey at 5 a.m. in two vehicles. Barely half an hour after leaving Pahalgam, they were stuck in heavy traffic when they received disturbing calls from family members back in Pune—a terrorist attack had just occurred in the area they had passed. A neighbor from their locality, Santosh Jagdale, was reportedly injured in the firing, triggering panic among the travelers.

As the group made its way toward Jammu Airport, the road ahead proved no safer. Local children allegedly pelted stones at tourist vehicles, intensifying the tension. “We were terrified. Anything could have happened. We tried contacting various people, but neither the administration nor locals offered help,” said Parge.

Their fears compounded when the drivers stopped on a dark, mountainous stretch and demanded an additional ₹15,000 to continue. With no safe alternatives, the group paid the amount under duress. Upon reaching Jammu on April 22, another setback awaited them—their hotel booking had been abruptly canceled, and flight ticket prices had surged, further escalating the crisis. The women and children in the group were visibly shaken.

After several failed attempts, they finally managed to book return flight tickets. The journey that began early on April 21 ended late at night on April 23, when they reached Mumbai—mentally and emotionally exhausted.

“This life-threatening experience in Jammu and Kashmir is something we will never forget,” Parge said.