“I wanted to host them at my home, and since they were my guests, I would have taken a bullet before anything was to happen to them.”
This is one sentence that captures the type of person Nazakat Ahmad Shah is—a bold local guide from Kashmir. When the sound of gunshots was heard at Baisaran Valley in Pahalgam on Tuesday, he hesitated not to risk his life to save the tourists he was hosting, reported The Hindu.
Nazakat’s Heroic Act Under Fire
The 30-year-old guide was with a tourist group, consisting of families and kids from Chhattisgarh, when disaster hit. When chaos erupted around them, Nazakat instantly sprinted into the danger zone to guide his clients to safety.
Nazakat’s courageous act saved numerous lives, but unfortunately, he lost his cousin, Syed Adil Hussain Shah, who was gunned down in the attack. The attack also took the lives of 25 others, among them a local who transported tourists by horseback.
A Moment of Terror
Arvind Agrawal, who is a BJP youth wing activist from Chhattisgarh, was also rescued by Nazakat. Agrawal, his family members, and some other tourists were having the last leg of their Kashmir tour when the firing began. Agrawal remembered, “You saved our lives by putting your own at risk. We will never be able to pay back the debt of Nazakat Bhai.”
On the ill-fated day, the group had reached Baisaran at noon, where kids were on ponies and adults were taking photographs. The serene moment was broken when they suddenly heard firing sounds. At first, they thought it was fireworks, but soon they realized the horrifying reality as tourists started running in terror.
Quick Thinking and Quick Action
Nazakat, who had been talking to another tourist at the time of the firing, sprang into action. “The firing was happening close to the zipline, at around 20 meters from where we were,” he explained. He immediately directed people to lie down and saw a hole in the fencing through which he could lead the children to safety.
In spite of the mayhem, Nazakat was resolute in not wanting anyone to be left behind. “I went back to find Agrawal ji’s wife, who had fled in a different direction. I spotted her almost one-and-a-half kilometers away and brought her back home in my car,” he added. Owing to his quick action, the whole group safely reached their location.
Personal Loss Amidst Heroism
The day was filled with heartbreak and bravery. Nazakat saved his guests successfully while his cousin had lost his life attempting to halt the attackers. This personal loss notwithstanding, Nazakat decided to prioritize the safety of the tourists over attending the funeral.
“Tourism is our bread and butter. Without it, we are unemployed and our children’s education is on this.The terror attack is an attack on our hearts,” he stated, outlining the effects of the event. He further reiterated that the security forces should be more watchful.
Thanks from Those Saved
After the traumatic incident, the rescued tourists put their gratitude on social media. Kuldeep Sthapak, who was part of the group, posted, “Nazakat bhai, you not only saved my life that day, you kept humanity alive. I will never forget you for the rest of my life.”
Sthapak remembered the day when Nazakat took up his child, placed him on his shoulders, and ran 14 kilometers in the hills to safety. His words were a tribute to Nazakat’s bravery and the enduring power of his sacrificial act.
