Opinion | Community Resilience: Healing After the Pahalgam Tragedy

On the misty morning of April 7, 2025, the breathtaking meadows of Baisaran in Pahalgam, once echoing with the laughter of tourists and the chirping of birds — fell silent. A sudden terrorist attack left several tourists dead and injured, and cast a dark shadow over this peaceful town nestled in Kashmir’s hills

But as the world mourned, something powerful began to stir amidst the grief, the unwavering spirit of the people of Pahalgam.

Locals Became First Responders

In those crucial first minutes, before officials could arrive, it was the locals who rushed forward. Young men from nearby villages sprinted uphill carrying makeshift stretchers made of shawls and branches. Women from nearby homes brought water, blankets, and offered shelter to survivors. Shopkeepers closed shutters, not out of fear, but to focus on rescuing the injured.

Bilal Ahmad, a pony handler, was one of the first to reach the scene. “We heard screams and ran. We didn’t wait to know who was hurt. Whether a local or tourist, all we saw were human beings in need,” he said, his eyes brimming with emotion

In the days that followed, while media vans lined the roads and security forces swept the forests, the people of Pahalgam quietly began the task of healing, not just their land, but each other.

The local mosque and gurdwara jointly organized a blood donation camp. Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, and Christian residents stood in the same queue, symbolizing unity that terror could not shatter.

Sheikh Rizwana, a schoolteacher, opened her home to two grieving families who had come from Delhi and Maharashtra to claim their loved ones. “I didn’t know their names, but I knew their pain,” she said. “And I couldn’t let them bear it alone.”

Recognizing the trauma faced by survivors and witnesses, especially children, a group of young Kashmiri psychologists from Srinagar and Anantnag volunteered to set up temporary counselling camps. One of them, Dr. Saima Jan, said, “We expected fear and silence, but what we saw was resilience. People here wanted to talk, to heal, and to help others heal too.”

The tragedy brought with it a powerful reminder: that the soul of Kashmir lies not in its landscapes alone, but in its people. While the attack was meant to instil fear and division, it instead sparked unity and compassion.

In an unprecedented move, the local tourism community, including hoteliers, ponywalas, and guides, jointly decided to offer free stays and tours to the families of victims whenever they choose to return. “They came here as guests. Now they are part of our family,” said Ghulam Nabi, a hotel owner whose own nephew was injured in the attack.

Today, as Pahalgam slowly returns to normal, scars remain — but so does strength. The flowers bloom again in Baisaran, children play cautiously by the Lidder River, and tourists, though fewer, are returning. And in every home, in every corner of this resilient town, there is a story, of courage, of compassion, and of community.

In the face of terror, Pahalgam chose humanity.

Writer can be reached at mdmuslimbh at@yahoo.com