A family from Kerala narrowly escaped a terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Their unexpected delay, caused by a salty plate of rogan josh, may have saved their lives.
Lavanya, a native of Kochi, was holidaying with ten family members. They were visiting Kashmir and had just spent two days exploring Srinagar. On the day of the attack, they were heading to Pahalgam. But they stopped for lunch, and that changed everything.
The group included Lavanya, her husband Alby George, their three children, Alby’s parents, a cousin sister, and her family. Their plan was to spend two full days in Pahalgam.
While on the way, they reached a point just two kilometres from the attack site. That’s when they noticed something strange. A group of 10 to 20 horses came galloping downhill. The animals were clearly frightened.
Also read: Pahalgam attack: Elderly shot dead; Kerala HC judges escape
“At first, we thought it was a landslide,” Lavanya said. “Then a few cars coming down signalled for us to stop. Someone told us there had been a clash between CRPF and tourists.”
The family still considered going up the hill. But something didn’t feel right. They eventually turned around. They went downhill instead and started taking pictures. At that point, they were unaware of the seriousness of the situation.
“Then we saw a woman crying and walking with CRPF officers,” Lavanya said. “That’s when we felt something was wrong.”
It was only later, after phone calls from worried relatives, that they understood what had happened. “We saw the news and realised how close we were,” she said.
Lavanya credits two people for the delay that saved them — her husband and the restaurant staff.
“For two days, we hadn’t eaten lunch due to the tourist rush,” she explained. “But that day, my husband insisted we stop. We spent about one and a half hours there.”
The rogan josh they ordered was too salty and full of bones. Their elderly parents found it hard to eat. When they told the restaurant staff, the staff insisted on making it again. Lavanya said they were in a hurry, but the staff didn’t give up. They made a fresh batch and served it again.
“That extra time may have saved our lives,” Lavanya said.
She also praised the local people. “The locals are very kind,” she said. “We felt a strong connection with them. They were deeply upset about the attack. They’re worried about what this means for tourism.”
The family is still in Srinagar but plans to return to Kerala on 25 April. They feel grateful and lucky to have avoided harm.
“This trip has taught us how unpredictable life can be,” Lavanya said. “We’re just thankful we’re safe — all because of one unexpected lunch.”
Follow us
