Pahalgam attack: Thrilling story of how Chandrashekar & family escaped by mere minutes

Chandrashekar and his family from Karnataka’s Chikmagalur had a narrow escape during the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22. The family was on their way to Baisaran valley by horse when the attack occurred just 10–15 minutes before they were scheduled to reach the spot.

“We had no idea anything had happened,” Chandrashekar said. “The locals took care of us during the ride, and only after we returned did we come to know about the incident.” He added that their cab driver apologized to them upon learning of the attack. The family credited their earlier visit to a Vishnu temple for their miraculous escape. “We believe God was with us,” they said.

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Chandrashekar’s wife recalled how they were unaware of the seriousness of the situation until relatives and friends began calling, alarmed by the news. It was only through media coverage that they learned about the fatalities and chaos that had unfolded nearby.

Chandrashekar’s mother praised the locals for their kindness, saying, “They intentionally didn’t tell us it was a terror attack so we wouldn’t panic and become targets. They even returned our money.”

The family expressed deep sorrow for those who lost their lives, while acknowledging the support of leaders like Santosh Lad and CT Ravi who reached out to them after the incident.