‘Shailesh was to return from Kashmir a day after birthday’: Surat family plans funeral after Pahalgam attack

At least 25 tourists and a Valley resident were shot dead Tuesday at a meadow near Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir in the deadliest terror attack on civilians in the country since the Mumbai 26/11 shootings.

“We were all shocked after learning about the incident. Mayur bhai and two others have reached Kashmir, and they are taking care of Shital and looking after all the necessary arrangements to bring the body to Surat,” said Kishan.

Shailesh Himmat Kathaliya, a resident of Mumbai and native of Lathi taluka in Amreli district, was working as a manager at the State Bank of India in Andheri. He had left for a summer tour with his wife Shitalben (41), daughter and son last week.

Shailesh’s father Himmatbhai Kathaliya came down to Surat from Dhufamilya village in Lathi taluka on Wednesday morning to receive the body.

Family members said that Shailesh’s cousin Mayur and two others had on Tuesday afternoon learnt about the death of Shailesh and later in the evening, they left for Mumbai. They later reached Srinagar, where they contacted his wife Shital and helped her out with the procedures.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Kishan Kathaliya said: “Our entire family has shifted to Surat, while Shailesh was earlier staying in Surat and he had purchased a bungalow in the Katargam Chikuwadi area. However, due to the transferable job of a Class 1 officer at the SBI, he had to move to different states and districts. He was in Mumbai at the Andheri branch for the last year, and before that, he was in Jaipur, Rajasthan. He takes his family wherever he gets transferred. He had given his house in Surat on rent.”

He said: “All our family and relatives are settled in Surat, so we have decided to carry out the final rites in Surat city. My uncle and his father Himmat bhai also had come down to Surat early in the morning. Shailesh’s mother passed away a couple of years ago.”