A Year After, Pahalgam Victim’s Family Struggles To Cope With Loss
Kochi victim’s family remembers horror as tribute events mark the attack anniversary
Thiruvananthapuram: A year after the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the life of N. Ramachandran from Kochi, his family is still struggling to cope with the immense tragedy that shook them.
Ramachandran, 65, was one of the 26 tourists killed in the attack. He was on a holiday in Kashmir with his wife, daughter, and grandchildren when the incident occurred. The attack shocked the nation, prompting India to launch Operation Sindoor, a military response targeting terror launchpads in Pakistan.
The Sangh Parivar organisations will hold a ceremony near Changampuzha Park on Wednesday morning to pay tribute to the martyrs of Pahalgam. A remembrance event is also scheduled for Sunday at 10 a.m. at Changampuzha Park.
Last year, Aarti, the daughter of N. Ramachandran who was killed in the Pahalgam terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir, shared her harrowing account of that day. When the terrorist approached Aarti and her father, he asked for a single word: “kalma.” Her father replied in Hindi that he didn’t understand, and within minutes, they shot him right in front of her. Her children were with her during this horrific moment.
“I hugged my father and cried. The kids wanted to leave right away, but the mother in me knew I had to protect them. I was sure my father had died from the gunshot. I ran through a forest path with my children, and soon others fleeing in different directions joined us. We walked together for 45 minutes until we got a mobile signal, then I called my driver, Musafir, who alerted others about what had happened.”
"When I hugged my father and broke down in tears, a terrorist pointed a gun at my head. I couldn’t tell if he meant to shoot me or just frighten me. Maybe they let me go because my children began to cry. The man facing me wasn’t in uniform."
"I was with two drivers, Musafir and Sameer, both Kashmiris, who stood by me like elder and younger brothers. Together, we waited outside the mortuary until 3 a.m. as I identified my father. They treated me like family. Before parting at the airport, I told them I now have two brothers in Kashmir. May Allah keep them safe," she said.
