Two tourists from Karnataka—Manjunath Rao from Shivamogga and Bharath Bhushan from Bengaluru—were among the 26 victims killed in the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday. Both were visiting the popular meadow of Baisaran with their families when the terrorists opened fire indiscriminately.
Families Survive the Tragedy
While Bharath Bhushan, a 41-year-old software employee, succumbed to bullet injuries, his wife Sujatha and their three-year-old son survived. Tejasvi Surya, Bengaluru South MP currently in Kashmir for a PAC meeting, confirmed their safety on social media. He stated that arrangements were being made for the family’s stay in Anantnag and for their early transportation back to Bengaluru.
Manjunath Rao, a 47-year-old realtor, was on the trip with his wife Pallavi and their 18-year-old son. His wife and son escaped the attack unharmed. The family had left Shivamogga on April 19 and were scheduled to return on April 24.
Pallavi’s Heartbreaking Account
Speaking over the phone from Pahalgam, Pallavi shared a harrowing account of the attack. “We had reached the spot by horse riding. My husband was looking to buy something for my son to eat. Within minutes, I found my husband in a pool of blood. He died in front of my eyes, and I was helpless,” she said.
“Both my son and I asked the militants to kill us, too. But the terrorist said he would not kill us but asked us to convey this to Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” she added. Pallavi, who works as a manager at the Birur branch of Malnad Areca Marketing Cooperative Society (MAMCOS), said visiting Kashmir was her husband’s long-cherished dream. “Now, I feel we should not have come here,” she said.
Support from Locals
Despite the tragedy, Pallavi mentioned the kindness of the locals. “Three local Muslims, reciting ‘Bismillah’, helped us come down from the place where the attack happened. One of them carried my son. Two others helped me cross the tough terrain. The local people have been supportive,” she said.
Shock and Grief in Shivamogga
Back in Shivamogga, the news of Manjunath’s death came as a shock. His cousin Deepa said, “Within hours, we got the news that he is no more. We are all in shock. So far, we have not been able to convey this news to his mother.”
Shivamogga Superintendent of Police G.K. Mithun Kumar confirmed the death and said coordination was ongoing with officers to bring the body to Srinagar and later airlift it. Lok Sabha MP B.Y. Raghavendra and MLA S.N. Channabasappa visited the bereaved family.
Mr. Raghavendra stated, “The Union government took measures to restore real democracy in the State through the abrogation of Article 370 and tightening security to ensure normal life. However, such measures must have triggered the militants to conduct attacks targeting the Hindu tourists. The Union government has taken the issue seriously.”
