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Journalism of Courage
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) spokesperson Rupali Patil-Thombare, who is stranded in Kashmir as part of a 12-member group following the Pahalgam terror attack, has made an emotional appeal to the Maharashtra government to ensure that all tourists from the state are brought back home.
“We landed in Srinagar yesterday. The terrorist attack has changed things drastically here. There is a lot of fear among tourists, and no one can go out. I am with a 12-member group of family and friends. There are tourists from Nashik and Ahmedabad in the hotel. Everyone is scared and wants to return home,” Thombare said, fighting tears, in a video.
The NCP spokesperson said she has reached out to Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Pune MP Murlidhar Mohol for help. “I appeal to the Maharashtra government to ensure our return home,” she said.
More than 260 tourists from Pune are reportedly stranded in Jammu and Kashmir.
Mohol said that six people from Maharashtra have died in the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead, and the government was planning to arrange a special flight from Srinagar to Pune to bring back the tourists. He added that he was in touch with the stranded tourists in Kashmir.
“Santosh Jagdale and Kaustubh Ganbote from the city (Pune) have died in the terrorist attack. Their bodies will be brought to the city by 6 pm,” Mohol said in Pune.
“I am trying to arrange a special flight to Pune via Mumbai to bring all tourists back home. There are three to four big groups of tourists from Pune in Srinagar. We hope to bring them back today or tomorrow,” Mohol said, adding that a special flight will leave Srinagar for Mumbai on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Pune resident Aditya Khatate, who is stuck in Srinagar after he travelled to Jammu and Kashmir as part of a 67-member group, also appealed that the government facilitate their return.
“We were 2-3 km away from the spot of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam. We returned to Srinagar immediately and stayed wherever we could manage accommodation. Many women and children are part of our group,” he said.
“The situation has become difficult as entire Kashmir is closed. There is no means to return. It is our appeal to the state government to send us back to Pune. We are natives of Daund, Shirur and Haveli,” Khatate added.
