Bravehearts of Pahalgam: From Ponywallahs to Teenagers, Kashmiris Save Lives Amid Carnage

As the nation mourns the loss of 26 innocent lives in the brutal terror attack on tourists at Baisaran near Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, stories of extraordinary bravery and humanity have emerged from the chaos. While gunmen unleashed horror on April 22, it was local Kashmiris-ponywallahs, teenage sisters, and tourist guides-who became the first responders, risking everything to save others.

 

Ponywallahs: The First to Respond

Locals ponywallahs, who are famous for taking tourists around on horseback, were among the first people to reach the spot even before the security forces. Waheed, president of the local ponywallah union, recalled the terrifying moments: "When I arrived there, I saw dead and injured bodies scattered around.". I started by rescuing the wounded. While most vendors and workers were running away, Waheed and a few others remained behind and took the wounded to safety for more than an hour in the face of constant danger.

 

Among them was Syed Adil Hussain Shah, aged 28, who was killed in the face of the attackers while trying to shield tourists. By his family members and witnesses, Shah tried to grab a gun from a terrorist and was gunned down where he stood. His act of bravery was regretted by many, with hundreds attending his funeral, including Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of J&K, who paid tribute to his bravery.

 

Teenage Sisters: Bravery Beyond Age

Gujjar-Bakerwal sisters Rubeena (14) and Mumtaza (16) emerged as unexpected rescuers when they stayed behind and helped people. When panic started, the sisters did not run away. With Mumtaza having a broken foot, she escorted a tourist's child to safety, and Rubeena led shaken visitors through boulder-strewn ground to their small mud hut, providing water and shelter. "We thought only of the tourists. They couldn't move; they were scared. All they asked us was for assistance," Rubeena explained.

 

Guides and Owners of Mules: Acts of Bravery

Other local heroes were tourist guides and mule owners. Nizakat Ahmed Shah is said to have saved 11 tourists from Chhattisgarh, while Sajad Ahmed Bhatt was a symbol of hope after a video showed him carrying an injured boy on his back, running downhill over rocky ground to get medical attention. Their quick response as first responders are said to have saved many lives in those early critical moments.

 

National and Global Response

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his 'Mann Ki Baat' address to the nation, recognized the sheer pain and fury expressed across India, promising justice for those who were attacked. He stressed that the attack was an effort by terrorists and their sponsors to undo the peace and prosperity coming back to Kashmir. Security forces have since amplified their crackdown, razing homes of terrorist groups and conducting large-scale searches for perpetrators.

 

A Community's Sacrifice

From the ponywallahs who transported the injured, to the adolescent girls who took in strangers, and the guides who defied gunfire to rescue strangers, these tales of bravery are a stark contrast to the brutality of the day. The Pahalgam attack revealed both the extremes of brutality and the extremes of human nature, with local Kashmiris risking-and, in some cases, offering-up-their lives to shield guests in their valley.

 

Sources: Hindustan Times, India Today