A chilling video shot by a tourist during the Pahalgam terror attack on 22 April has gone viral on social media. It appears to capture the moment gunfire broke out while the tourist was ziplining at the popular meadow spot in Jammu and Kashmir.
The man behind the video, identified as Rishi Bhatt, shared his terrifying experience. He said he was ziplining when the sound of gunshots rang out and chaos erupted on the ground. In the clip, just before he’s released down the zipline, the operator can be heard saying “Allahu Akbar” three times. Within seconds, the sound of gunfire follows, and tourists below begin running for cover.
My family crossed before me
Speaking to ANI, Rishi Bhatt said his wife, child, and a few others had already taken the zipline safely. But something felt different during his turn.
“When I was ziplining, the operator said ‘Allahu Akbar’ three times, and then the firing started. He didn’t say anything before that when the others were going. It felt off,” Rishi Bhatt said.
He initially didn’t realise what was happening. “For about 20 seconds I thought nothing of it. Then I saw people being shot, people running. That’s when I knew it was a terror attack.”
The moment panic struck
Rishi Bhatt described seeing five to six people being shot in front of him. “It was horrifying. I unhooked myself, grabbed my wife and child, and we ran. We found a low pit where others were hiding and stayed down with them.”
The gunfire reportedly lasted around 8 to 10 minutes before there was a brief pause. That’s when the family and others made a run for the main gate. But the firing resumed shortly after. Rishi Bhatt said they saw 15 to 16 tourists being hit during that second round of shooting.
Local guide helps, Army steps in
According to Rishi Bhatt, by the time they reached the main gate, the locals had already fled. A pony guide helped lead them away from the area, and soon they were spotted by Indian Army personnel who provided cover.
“The Army reached within 20 to 25 minutes. They secured the area quickly and gave cover to the remaining tourists. I truly felt safe when the Army arrived. I’m thankful for that,” he said.
Suspicions raised about zipline operator
Rishi Bhatt pointed out that nine people had used the zipline before him, and the operator said nothing to any of them. “He only said ‘Allahu Akbar’ before sending me off. Then the firing began. I can’t ignore that. He looked like a regular local, but now I have my doubts.”
A deadly attack
The 22 April terrorist attack in Pahalgam left 26 people dead, most of them tourists. The Resistance Front (TRF), a proxy of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility. It’s considered one of the deadliest attacks in the region since the 2019 Pulwama bombing.
India responded with a series of strong diplomatic measures against Pakistan, including suspending key bilateral arrangements and ordering Pakistani nationals to leave.
Rishi Bhatt’s video has not been independently verified yet, but it has become one of the most widely shared first-hand accounts of the incident. His story adds a deeply personal angle to an already devastating event.
