Pahalgam terror attack: Several families from different parts of Karnataka safe, to return soon

BENGALURU: While three people from Karnataka were among over 25 tourists killed in the Pahalgam terrorist attack on Tuesday, several families from the state which are in Jammu and Kashmir are safe, having escaped the attack.

Thirteen people from Bagalkot, including four couples and children, residents of Marwadi Galli, had a providential escape. The group, including Kishore Kasat, Suraj Kasat, Girish Kasat, Nitish Bang and their families had travelled to Jammu and Kashmir on April 19. After visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi temple, they were on their way to Pahalgam when they were stopped due to a landslide.

The group took a 70-km deviation by which time the terrorist attack at Pahalgam had started. On being informed by relatives, the group gave up their plan to visit Pahalgam. According to Anand Kasat, a relative in Bagalkot, the group is returning via Rajouri and Srinagar and will reach Jammu from where they will return to Bagalkot.

A family of five from Rameshwara Nagar in Chikkamagalur had a close shave when they were heading to the Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam on mules when they saw people rushing back. When they asked a local resident what was happening, they were told that a tree had fallen. After getting to know about the terror attack, they headed back to their hotel.

The family included electrical contractor Chandrashekar, Indiramma, Leela and children Nakshant and Sneha. On Wednesday, Minister Santosh Lad, who is overseeing the repatriation, met the family at the hotel.

A family of four from Harapanahalli in Vijayanagar district, which was in Pahalgam on Tuesday, are returning after cutting short their holiday following the terror attack.

T M Rajashekar, the dean of the Tegginamath BEd College, his wife B M Umadevi, daughter Gowrika and son-in-law Kotrabasavaiah were heading to Pahalgam when they came to know about the terror attack. They have now booked tickets for their return journey.

A group of 19 people from four families hailing from Koppal, set out for Kashmir on Tuesday, but the terror attack had happened even before they could reach there. The group reached around 6 pm on Tuesday and were about 100 km away from Pahalgam.

Congress activist Sharanappa Sajjan, who is among the group confirmed that they are safe in a hotel in Srinagar where they met Minister Santosh Lad. The group will return via Delhi, he said. Koppal SP Ram Arasiddi sid the group includes 11 children and they will return today.

Two families from Haveri, who had gone to the Mata Vaishno Devi temple, are safe in Katra. The group, including Veeresh and family from Haveri and Nagaraj and family from Shiggaon, had been touring Jammu and Kashmir for the last three days. They were not in touch with relatives due to poor connectivity, but after reaching Katra, they informed that they are safe.

Another group of 27 people from nine families from Hanagal had set off to Jammu and Kashmir from Hubballi as part of a tour conducted by Gurushanteshwara Travel Agencies of Shivamogga. The group had set off on April 17 and are now safe at the Mata Vaishno Devi temple.

The group includes Shankar Hadimani and family, Kumar Hattikal and family, Nagaraj Mirji and family, Veeresh Haveri and family, Rudragouda P and family, Kereswamy K P and family, Manojahar Bommanahalli and family, Suresh Sindhoora and family and Jadhav Uppin and family.