Two families, one from Budgam in Kashmir and the other from Jammu, are mourning an unimaginable loss after Sunday’s terrorist attack in Ganderbal, central Kashmir. What was meant to be a festive time for the Abrol family and a hopeful return to normal for the Dar family has turned into a period of deep sorrow. Both families lost their loved ones, Shashi Bhushan Abrol and Dr. Shahnawaz Ahmed Dar, in the tragic incident that claimed seven lives at the Z-Morh tunnel site on the Srinagar-Leh highway.
In the village of Naidgam, Budgam, the air was thick with grief as 52-year-old Dr. Dar was laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard. His family, including his mother, wife, and three children, is left reeling from the sudden loss. His mother cried out, “My son, where have you gone?” as the community mourned together.
One of the most heartbreaking moments came from his teenage son, Mohsin Dar, who shared how his father was his greatest supporter. “I wanted to become an IAS officer, and he had promised to help me fulfill this dream. Now that dream is gone,” he said, capturing the emotional weight of the tragedy.
Dr. Dar had recently celebrated the wedding of his daughter and was scheduled to return home to participate in the after-wedding ceremonies. Sadly, those plans were cut short by his untimely death. The loss has shaken the entire community. “Dr. Sahib was a man of honor, a professional who served us with humility and faith,” said Ghulam Mohammad Dar, a village elder. He lamented how they had just celebrated the doctor’s daughter’s wedding and were now mourning his loss.
The village expressed outrage at the attackers and called for justice. “This loss is not just personal; it is a blow to humanity,” a resident declared, urging that the perpetrators be brought to justice.
In Jammu, over 300 kilometers away, Shashi Bhushan Abrol’s family is facing the same nightmare. His wife, Ruchi, had observed Karva Chauth, praying for her husband’s long life, but instead of celebrating the end of the fast, she received the devastating news of his death.
Ruchi, still in shock, recalled her last conversation with her husband. “He called me in the evening, and everything seemed normal. I told him I would call again after finishing the temple rituals. But after that, his phone went silent.”
Later that night, as Ruchi waited for a video call from her husband to break her fast, the family learned of the tragedy through media reports. “We were all trying to comfort her, but we had no idea what had happened,” said Divya, Ruchi’s sister-in-law.
Shashi Abrol, who had been married for 20 years, leaves behind his parents, wife, and two children. The family now faces not only the emotional toll but also practical challenges. “Shashi was the sole breadwinner,” his father, Jagdish Raj Abrol, explained. “His wife is a simple housewife. How will she raise the children alone?”
Divya also shared that Shashi had dreams of seeing his son become an engineer. “He last came home two months ago to help with his son’s engineering college admission. His biggest hope was to see him succeed, but now everything is uncertain.”
In the midst of their grief, both the Abrol and Dar families have the same plea: that those responsible for the tragedy be held accountable, and that the government provide support to help them rebuild their shattered lives. Yet, they are all too aware that no amount of justice can bring back the fathers, sons, and husbands they lost—men who had dreams and hopes for their families, which were cruelly taken away in a moment of senseless violence.
