Maqbool Khan, 30, was few blocks away from where heavily armed militants pumped bullets on tourists which led to the death of 26 people including a Kashmiri civilian in the attack.
He greeted his friend, Syed Adil Hussain Shah, a fellow horseman, before going down the steep mountain trek. But within moments, he heard gunshots ringing out across the green valley.
“I ran after I heard the gunshots. Along with me, many horsemen simply sprinted away from the scene,” said Maqbool, who has been regularly taking tourists on a horse ride to the Baisaran meadow.
The meadow lies amid deep forests and the climb comes through several check posts of the security force personnel.
Down the steep trek in Pahalgam, shopkeepers, restaurant owners and hoteliers quickly shuttered their businesses and everyone ran for safety after the militant attack. Some restaurant owners said that they extended all possible help to the tourists and even provided free meals.
Locals and police officials said that in order to avert panic, some of the tourists were made to stay put in hotels. Roads in Pahalgam wore a deserted look today and people recalled that a wave of fear quickly spread across the tourist area.
In the aftermath of the militant attack, additional deployments were made on the roads through which one would enter Pahalgam from Srinagar side. On Tuesday, police barred entry of people and media personnel to Pahalgam while the patrolling was intensified on roads that lead to the place.
Locals said as soon as the news of the gunfire spread, tourists boarded public transport to rush out from the area, which has been placed under heavy security lockdown to track down the militants.
The mountain range in Pahalgam connects with one of the routes to the pilgrimage of Amarnath cave shrine.
“I am working at a local restaurant where I serve tea to the tourists. As soon as the gunshots were heard, we ran for safety. Within minutes the whole Pahalgam town was emptied of all life,” said, Nadeem Ahamd Bhat, 30.
“In my life, I have never heard of an attack like this. Pahalgam area had been particularly peaceful for some time due to which the hotels and restaurants have been witnessing good business,” added Nadeem.
