In brief
A tourist zip lining in Kashmir inadvertently recorded a terrifying scene as militants opened fire on crowds below, resulting in over 26 fatalities and numerous injuries. Rishi Bhatt, who was enjoying a family trip from Gujarat, captured the chaotic moments of the attack. His video, where joy turns to fear, showcases the panic experienced by tourists against a backdrop of tranquil scenery. The incident has raised tensions between India and Pakistan, prompting calls for deeper investigation into security lapses.
Rishi Bhatt donned a blue helmet as he prepared to slide down a zip line across the Baisaran Valley in Kashmir, a “mini Switzerland” where hundreds of tourists from India enjoyed a sunny April afternoon. Holding the rope in one hand and his smartphone in the other, he took off from the platform as the camera began recording.Video filmed by Bhatt and verified by The New York Times captures the panic that ensued as militants opened fire, with at least two dozen people losing their lives. Bhatt's joyful demeanor starkly contrasts with the terror unfolding below him. As he glides above an open meadow filled with families and picnicking tourists, gunshots interrupt the peaceful atmosphere.Two shots are heard in quick succession as he passes over children jumping on trampolines. Below, people scramble for safety amidst the confusion; some are near Zorb Balls as others look towards the entrance, while a parent hurriedly carries a child away. The chaos escalates, leading people to rush towards nearby cedar trees.It wasn't until the end of Bhatt’s nearly 40-second ride down that he began to grasp the gravity of the situation. “For about 20 seconds I did not realize; I was deep in my fun in the zip line,” he recounted in a local interview. “Then I realized that firing was going on and people were dying below, and I saw five or six people had been shot.” After disembarking, he found his family and they escaped unharmed.The terror attack that claimed over 26 lives and injured 17 has raised questions about security measures in the region and heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. Bhatt's viral video has emerged as crucial evidence for investigators trying to understand how a day of leisure turned into such a devastating tragedy.
