Rishi Bhatt unknowingly recorded a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India which left 26 dead
A family holiday in the scenic highlands of northern India took a harrowing turn when a man inadvertently captured footage of a deadly terror strike mid-zipline.
Rishi Bhatt, a tourist from Gujarat, had journeyed with his wife and son to the tranquil Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, Kashmir — an idyllic landscape now etched with tragedy. What was meant to be a moment of thrill and leisure turned into a grim recording of horror, as gunfire erupted nearby, claiming the lives of 26 individuals and injuring dozens more on Tuesday, 22 April.
Unaware of the chaos unfolding just beyond his lens, Bhatt filmed the serene panorama — only to later discover that his video bore witness to civilians being gunned down in the background by armed militants.
Indian authorities have swiftly condemned the bloodshed as an act of terror, levelling accusations at Pakistan for allegedly supporting the perpetrators, according to Sky News. Islamabad has rejected any involvement, while the extremist group known as The Resistance Front — believed to be a proxy for the notorious Lashkar-e-Taiba — has claimed responsibility.
The attack has reignited global attention on the volatile Kashmir region, long marred by conflict and contested sovereignties. Since the partition of British India in 1947, both India and Pakistan have laid claim to the mountainous territory — with periodic violence serving as a bitter reminder of unresolved borders and deep-rooted enmities.
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Rishi Bhatt’s holiday video has gone viral — though not for the carefree adventure he imagined. The footage, recorded as he glided down a zipline, captured the chilling sounds of gunfire echoing through the valley, with chaos quietly unfolding in the background.
As his harness carried him through the crisp mountain air, the horror behind him became evident — people could be seen scattering in panic, running for cover as shots rang out in the distance.
“I saw five or six people being gunned down,” Bhatt recalled, speaking to The New Indian Express. Once he reached the end of the line, he didn’t wait. “I unfastened the harness and leapt off, grabbed my wife and son, and we fled.”
The family sprinted toward safety, eventually finding a depression in the landscape — a pit-like hollow that offered momentary concealment. “We saw others hiding there too,” he said. “You couldn’t be spotted easily in that place. So we stayed there, crouched low, praying we wouldn’t be seen.”
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Bhatt’s video shows the attack happening (X/@kathiyawadiii)
“I saw men from two families ahead of us being asked their religion and then shot in front of my wife and son. They were both screaming,” Bhatt recounted.
He said the shooting continued for eight to ten minutes before pausing briefly—only to start again soon after. “The Army arrived about 20 to 25 minutes later,” he added.
“The gunfire resumed, and another four to five people were shot. We saw 15 to 16 tourists gunned down right in front of us.”
“By the time we reached the gate, the local residents had already evacuated.”
He unknowingly recorded a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India which left 26 dead (X/@kathiyawadiii)
“The Army provided cover to all the tourists within 18 to 20 minutes. Once they arrived, we finally felt safe,” a survivor said. “I’m truly grateful to the Indian Army.”
Reacting to the incident, Omar Abdullah, the region’s top elected official, described it as unprecedented. “This attack is much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years,” he wrote on social media.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump also responded on Truth Social, stating, “Deeply disturbing news out of Kashmir. The United States stands strong with India against terrorism.”
Meanwhile, a local police official told Reuters on Monday, April 28, that approximately 500 people have been detained for questioning following extensive searches of homes and forests across Kashmir.
Featured Image Credit: X/@kathiyawadiii