24 killed in attack on tourists in occupied Kashmir

At least 24 people were killed and several others wounded when unidentified gunmen opened fire on a group of tourists in the Anantnag district of India-occupied Kashmir on Tuesday, police sources told international news agencies.

The assault, described as one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in recent years, occurred near the popular tourist destination of Pahalgam.

The identities and nationalities of the victims remain unconfirmed. Conflicting reports from security officials placed the death toll between 20 and 26. All spoke on condition of anonymity as official confirmation was pending.

According to eyewitness accounts, gunfire erupted suddenly, causing chaos as tourists fled for safety. “We thought it was firecrackers at first,” one survivor told a local broadcaster. Another said they ran for four kilometres without stopping.

A local tour guide reported transporting the wounded from the scene using horseback. Medical staff at a nearby hospital in Anantnag confirmed receiving multiple injured victims, some with gunshot wounds, including one with a bullet injury to the neck.

The attack occurred in a remote meadow, according to police sources. The Indian Express reported that two to three attackers may have been involved. The area has since been cordoned off, and a manhunt is underway.