Kalaburagi lawyer’s family escapes Pahalgam terror attack by narrow margin

In a miraculous turn of fate, eight members of a senior lawyer’s family from Kalaburagi, Karnataka narrowly escaped the terror attack that rocked Pahalgam, Kashmir, on April 22. The family of Mallikarjun Bhringimath, a well-known advocate, had just completed their visit to Aru Valley and Betab Valley in Pahalgam before moving to Srinagar—hours before the brutal attack unfolded.

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Bhringimath and his family had arrived in Jammu and Kashmir on April 16 for a holiday. They spent April 20 and 21 exploring Pahalgam’s scenic locales, unknowingly venturing near the very area that would become the site of deadly violence. The group then proceeded to Srinagar late on April 21 to continue their tour. By the next afternoon, terrorists had opened fire on unsuspecting tourists in Pahalgam, leaving the region shaken and several lives lost.

News of the attack prompted a flood of concerned phone calls to Bhringimath, who later confirmed via Facebook that his family was unharmed and safe in Srinagar. He expressed shock at how close they had been to the site of the tragedy.

The close call highlights how ordinary vacation plans were upended by the resurgence of violence in Kashmir. For the Bhringimath family, what could have been a tragedy turned into a thankful escape.