Security personnel rush to the spot after terrorists attacked a group of tourists at Pahalgam, in Anantnag district, Jammu & Kashmir, on Tuesday.
Three judges of the Kerala High Court, who were on a tour to Jammu and Kashmir, narrowly escaped the Pahalgam terror attack that has shook the nation.
The judges, Anil K Narendran, G Girish and PG Ajithkumar and their families were on a vacation to Jammu and Kashmir.
The eight-member team, which had reached the State on April 17, had toured the district and reached Pahalgam on Monday. After touring the area and visiting a few landmark tourist places, the team stayed put in Pahalgam for the day.
They left the place on Tuesday morning at 9.30 am, hours before the attack that left over 28 people dead, to reach Srinagar by noon.
“The weather was pleasant and we covered most of the spots of tourist attraction, including a few temples, on Monday itself. The driver of the vehicle, who took us around, had offered to take us to more tourist spots in the area. However, I insisted on returning to Srinagar today itself to take a boat ride in Dal Lake as I had visited the area earlier, and we reached Srinagar safely,” Justice Narendran told the media from Srinagar.
“We met a person at the hotel in Srinagar who narrowly escaped the terrorist attack. He was all shaken by the attack,” he recollected.
“The terror strike reportedly took place at around noon, and by that time, we were back to safety in Srinagar,” said Justice Ajithkumar.
Also read: Pahalgam attack: Terror faces revealed, plotter named
However, Edapally native Ramachandran's love for travel, a passion shared by his wife, ended in tragedy on Tuesday when he was gunned down by terrorists in Kashmir's Pahalgam, and in front of his daughter who had come down from Dubai to meet her parents.
Ramachandran, 65, travelled to Kashmir with his wife, daughter and grandchildren for holidaying.
He was shot dead by terrorists in front of his daughter, family sources said here on Wednesday.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's office confirmed his death in the terror attack.
The shocked family members and friends, who rushed to Ramachandran's house in Edappally here in the morning, said they were yet come to terms with his demise.
After working in the UAE for several years, Ramachandran returned to Kochi with his wife Sheela some years ago.
Sivasankaran Nair, a neighbour of Ramachandran, said they talked each other even on the previous day the family proceeded to Kashmir.
"I never imagined even in my dreams that their journey would be end like this. I could not believe even now. He was a good friend," Nair said.
Family sources said Ramachandran had a daughter and son.
His son has already left for Kashmir after hearing the news.
Expressing deep sorrow over the demise of Ramachandran, Bharatiya Janata Party state chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar said as per the information he received, the mortal remains would be brought on Wednesday.
He also said they were tracking all details and coordinating with family members.
NORKA Roots, the field agency of the Department of Non-Resident Keralites Affairs (NORKA) launched a help desk to provide assistance, services and information to Keralites in view of the terror attack, a statement from the CMO said.
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