Rishi Bhatt, outfitted with a blue helmet, readied himself to glide down a zip line in Kashmir’s Baisaran Valley, which is fondly referred to as “mini Switzerland,” where numerous Indian tourists cherished a sunny April day. Mr. Bhatt, clutching his smartphone, launched from the starting point as the camera commenced recording the descent.
Video footage, captured and authenticated by Mr. Bhatt and The New York Times, vividly captures the onset of panic as shots fired by militants echoed through the air, claiming the lives of at least two dozen individuals. The stark contrast of Mr. Bhatt’s euphoric expressions and voices with the unfolding terror is profoundly unsettling.
Commencing his zip line experience, Mr. Bhatt’s camera sweeps across an open meadow dotted with yellow and blue tents near the valley’s entrance and frolicking tourists enjoying the spring sunshine.
Suddenly, gunfire disrupts the tranquility. As Mr. Bhatt glides over children bouncing on a trampoline, the serene environment is shattered by two more shots.
Beneath him, chaos engulfs the scene as tourists frantically seek safety. Some stand near Zorb Balls, while others look back towards the entrance. A swift adult sweeps up a child, and a figure dashes into the nearby cedar forest.
The video doesn’t reveal the gunmen, but towards the conclusion of Mr. Bhatt’s nearly 40-second descent, he starts to notice the grim reality. Initially immersed in his zip line adventure, Mr. Bhatt subsequently realized the severity of the situation, with gunfire and casualties becoming apparent. Post-descent, he reunited with his family and fled, miraculously unscathed.
Significantly more remains unknown than known about the terror attack, which claimed over 26 lives and wounded 17. This incident has exacerbated tensions between India and Pakistan, accused by India of harboring terrorism, teetering on the edge of potential military clash. Mr. Bhatt’s viral video serves as pivotal evidence in the ongoing investigation by authorities to understand the security breach and the transformation from a peaceful day to one of terror.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/01/world/asia/kashmir-attack-tourist-video.html
