COMMUNITY RESILIENCE: HEALING AFTER THE PAHALGAM TRAGEDY

In the misty morning of April 7, 2025, the breathtaking meadows of Baisaran in Pahalgam, once echoing with the laughter of tourists and the chirping of birds fell silent. A sudden terrorist attack left several tourists dead and injured, and cast a dark shadow over this peaceful town nestled in Kashmir’s hills

- MD MUSLIM

But as the world mourned, something powerful began to stir amidst the grief, the unwavering spirit of the people of Pahalgam.

LOCALS BECAME FIRST RESPONDERS

In those crucial first minutes, before officials could arrive, it was the locals who rushed forward. Young men from nearby villages sprinted uphill carrying makeshift stretchers made of shawls and branches. Women from nearby homes brought water, blankets, and offered shelter to survivors. Shopkeepers closed shutters, not out of fear, but to focus on rescuing the injured.

Bilal Ahmad, a pony handler, was one of the first to reach the scene. "We heard screams and ran. We didn’t wait to know who was hurt. Whether a local or tourist, all we saw were human beings in need," he said, his eyes brimming with emotion