Horses Began Running Wild, Gunshots Were Heard: Alert Local Kashmiri Drivers Saved Us, Recall Pune Tourists

In a harrowing turn of events, 69 tourists from Pune, Shirur, and nearby areas narrowly escaped the devastating terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, that claimed the lives of 26 people, including six from Maharashtra. The incident unfolded just as multiple tour groups from the region were visiting the scenic meadows of Baisaran near Pahalgam.

Shirish Deshmukh, a civil engineer from Koregaon Bhima, was part of a group of 67 tourists that had traveled from Gulmarg to Pahalgam on April 16. They were split between two buses and an Innova. While the larger vehicles stopped for lunch, the Innova continued ahead, bringing it dangerously close—within 300 to 400 meters—to the site of the militant attack.

“The driver of the Innova heard gunshots and immediately got a call confirming the attack. He quickly contacted us and told us to turn around. We saw ambulances and police vehicles rushing past. It was a very close shave,” Deshmukh recalled.

The Innova driver, acting swiftly, diverted the vehicle to a resort he was familiar with and waited until the situation calmed. Later, the Innova reunited with the buses, and the entire group was safely brought back to Srinagar. Deshmukh praised the locals, saying, “They treated us like their responsibility.”

Another group led by Sagar Kudale from Nanded was at the horse stand in Pahalgam when panic broke out. “Horse owners suddenly fled with their horses. Kashmiri locals told us there was an attack and we must escape immediately. We gathered the children and ran for our vehicles,” said Kudale, who was traveling with 30 family members.

The group, once reunited in Srinagar, chose to remain indoors amid a complete lockdown and heightened Army presence. Kudale added, “We booked this Kashmir trip three months ago to enjoy snow, but now, I wouldn’t come here again—certainly not with family.”

Yashwant Ranaware, a resident of Aundh in Pune, shared a similar experience. “We were just about to book a horse ride to Baisaran when people started fleeing. We returned to our hotel and left for Srinagar the next day once private vehicles were allowed.”

Several members from other areas such as Uruli Kanchan, Boriyandi, and Haveli recounted how brief shopping halts or local warnings helped them narrowly avoid the chaos. Rohini Jivan Gaikwad, for instance, said her group was saved because they had stopped to buy dry fruits. “As we approached the valley, we heard gunfire and saw horses running. Locals sheltered us at a hotel parking area until it was safe to leave.”

Back in Maharashtra, swift government intervention began once the scale of the incident became clear. MP Murlidhar Mohol contacted the stranded tourists and requested identity documents to arrange flights. Shirur-Haveli MLA Mauli Aba Katke confirmed communication with Maharashtra’s Guardian Minister Ajit Pawar and MP Sunil Tatkare to ensure the tourists’ safe return.

“The bus return plan was dropped due to safety concerns. Arrangements are being made for all tourists to fly back by today or tomorrow morning,” Minister Mohol assured.

The tourists—ranging from young children to senior citizens—are currently safe in Srinagar, awaiting evacuation. The quick response of local residents, combined with the alertness of drivers and guidance from officials, helped prevent a far more tragic outcome for these visitors from Pune.