On video taken during zipline ride, Ahmedabad tourist inadvertently ‘captures’ Pahalgam attack
According to Bhatt, while running away from the spot, the family crouched on the ground for some time and started running again when the firing stopped. Soon, Army personnel had arrived providing them safety.
Written by Parimal A Dabhi
Ahmedabad | Updated: April 29, 2025 09:49 AM IST
3 min read
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A shot from the video shows multiple people running through the meadow.
A video taken “for fun” by a tourist from Ahmedabad during a zipline ride seems to have inadvertently captured the shootout in Baisaran valley at Pahalgam on April 22 with sounds, believed to be of gunshots, being heard in the background. In the video that surfaced on Monday, as the man is taking the ride, some people are seen running around on the picturesque ground and at least one of them falling down.
The man, 36-year-old Rushi Bhatt from Ahmedabad’s Paldi area, told The Indian Express, “As you can see in the video, I had shot it for fun. I did not even know that firing was on. But (the attack) was captured on my video…”
Bhatt, who is in the business of event and wedding management, said he had planned the Kashmir holiday with his family from April 16-27 but cut it short after the attack in which 26 people were killed. He was accompanied by wife Bhakti (35) and son Preet (11).
“I realised that there was a terrorist attack after around 20 seconds on the ride when I saw that 4-5 persons had sustained bullet injuries below. During the first 2-3 firings, I could not make out (that it was a terror attack). But when the (frequency of) firings increased and I saw 2-3 persons falling down, I realised that it was a terrorist attack,” Bhatt, who shot the video on his mobile phone with a selfie stick, said.
“As I realised (towards the end of the ride), my wife and my son were shouting at me and I stopped shooting the video and jumped before the end point by opening the belt. My wife told me that two people from two families were killed (by terrorists) after asking their religion,” he added.
Bhatt said that he, too, saw the two dead bodies.
According to Bhatt, while running away from the spot, the family crouched on the ground for some time and started running again when the firing stopped. Soon, Army personnel had arrived providing them safety.
Bhatt said after seeing the video on his mobile phone on April 23, he shared it with a defence officer in Ahmedabad. “He (the defence officer) must have done inquiries at his end and after three days allowed me to share it with the media and others,” Bhatt said.
He said that so far, no security agency has recorded his statement on the video.
Bhatt said he had reached Pahalgam on April 22 and had scheduled a night stay there. But after the attack, the family left for Srinagar and returned to Ahmedabad on April 23.
Parimal A Dabhi works with The Indian Express as Chief of Bureau, focusing on the state of Gujarat. Leveraging his seniority and access, Dabhi is recognized for his reporting on the complex interplay of law, politics, social justice, and governance within the region.
Expertise & Authority
Core Authority (Social Justice and Law): Dabhi is a key source for in-depth coverage of caste-based violence, discrimination, and the state's response to social movements, particularly those involving Patidar, Dalit and OBC communities. His reporting focuses on the societal and legal fallout of these issues:
Caste and Discrimination: He has reported extensively on social boycotts and instances of violence against Dalits (such as the attack on a Dalit wedding party in Patan), the community's demands (like refusing to pick carcasses), and the political responses from leaders like Jignesh Mevani.
Judicial and Legal Affairs: He tracks significant, high-stakes legal cases and judgments that set precedents in Gujarat, including the convictions under the stringent Gujarat Animal Preservation Act (cow slaughter), 2002 Gujarat riots and developments in cases involving former police officers facing charges of wrongful confinement and fake encounters.
Political and Administrative Oversight: Dabhi provides essential coverage of the inner workings of the state government and the opposition, ensuring a high degree of Trustworthiness in political analysis:
State Assembly Proceedings: He frequently reports directly from the Gujarat Assembly, covering Question Hour, discussion on various Bills, debates on budgetary demands for departments like Social Justice, and ministerial statements on issues like illegal mining, job quotas for locals, and satellite-based farm loss surveys.
Electoral Politics: His work details key political developments, including election analysis (voter turnout records), party organizational changes (like the end of C R Patil’s tenure as BJP chief), and campaign dynamics. ... Read More
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