Prime Minister Narendra Modi will cut short his Saudi Arabia trip and leave for India tonight, say government sources, after a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam claimed 26 lives, which authorities say is the worst attack on civilians in years.
The attack targeted tourists in Pahalgam, which lies about 90 kilometres by road from the key city of Srinagar.
Terrorists opened fire at a famed meadow near Kashmir’s Pahalgam town, dubbed “mini Switzerland”, and started firing at tourists milling around eateries, taking pony rides or picnicking, officials and eyewitnesses said.
Earlier today, as news broke of the attack, the Prime Minister dialled Home Minister Amit Shah and asked him to visit the Union Territory.
Amit Shah landed in Srinagar a little after 9 pm and drove straight to the Raj Bhavan from the airport.
Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Nalin Prabhat briefed the home minister upon his arrival. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, Union Home Secretary Govind Mohan and Director of Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka were present at the time of the briefing.
