Tourist’s Holiday Video Unknowingly Captures Deadly Pahalgam Terror Attack, Sparks Diplomatic Fallout

A tourist video taken during a zipline adventure has gone viral after it unintentionally captured the harrowing moments of a terrorist attack in Pahalgam that claimed the lives of 26 people, including one Nepali national.

The video was recorded by Rishi Bhatt, who was enjoying a holiday with his family. Dressed in a blue checkered T-shirt, sunglasses, and a helmet, Bhatt was using a selfie stick to document his ziplining experience. Unaware of the unfolding tragedy, his camera captured tourists running in panic as gunshots echoed in the background.

The video, which starts with Bhatt smiling and speaking into the camera, quickly turns grim. Tourists can be seen fleeing in all directions. Toward the end of the ride, the video captures a man falling to the ground, apparently struck by gunfire.

Realizing the gravity of the situation upon landing, Bhatt immediately took action to protect his family. “I took my wife and son and started running. We saw people hiding in a pit-like area, probably to avoid being spotted. We hid there too,” he told ANI.

“When the firing stopped for about 8–10 minutes, we ran toward the main gate. Then the shooting resumed. We saw four to five people shot. Around 15–16 tourists were shot in front of us. By the time we reached the gate, the local residents had already left,” he added.

A pony guide ultimately helped Bhatt and his family escape. “The Army was present in the lower areas but there were no personnel at the main site,” he noted.

The attack, which left 25 Indian nationals and one Nepali dead, has significantly strained diplomatic relations between India and Pakistan. In response, India has suspended the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty and revoked all visas issued to Pakistani nationals. Pakistan retaliated by closing its airspace to Indian airlines and warned that any attempt by India to divert shared water resources would be considered an “act of war.”

The Pahalgam incident has sparked international condemnation and raised serious concerns about tourist safety in conflict-prone regions.