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26 Goans stranded in Kashmir, CM promises ‘all possible assistance’ for their return

Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant condemned Tuesday’s terror attack in South Kashmir’s Pahalgam.

"We are in touch with the Goans stranded there and are offering them all possible assistance,” Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said. (File photo)

A day after several civilians — including a local – were killed in a deadly attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said Wednesday that 26 people from Goa are stranded in Jammu and Kashmir and the state is offering them all possible assistance to safely bring them back.

Addressing the media after a cabinet meeting, Sawant said, “According to the information I have received, there were three couples from Goa who were in Pahalgam, but they left around 15 minutes before the terror attack took place. The three (couples) were saved because they left the area in time. Luck was on their side,” he said.

“There are 26 people from Goa in Jammu and Kashmir at the moment. We are in touch with the Goans stranded there and are offering them all possible assistance,” Sawant said.

Sawant condemned Tuesday’s terror attack in South Kashmir’s Pahalgam. “We offer our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and pray for early recovery of all the injured. We stand united with the people of Jammu and Kashmir and all the Indians in rejecting terrorism and upholding peace, harmony and rule of law,” he said.

Sawant said in the aftermath of the attack, security has been tightened in the coastal state. “Goa, being a tourist state…we have tightened the security arrangements,” he said.

Daxal Naik, who runs a tours and travel company, said his company facilitated a tour from Goa to Jammu and Kashmir for a group of 26 people. “The group departed on April 21. They are all safe. When the attack occurred, the group was near the main market area in Pahalgam. They were not in Baisaran valley, which is a few kilometres from Pahalgam. They said they heard the sound of gunshots”.

Naik said the group was ferried from Pahalgam to Srinagar in a tempo traveller Tuesday. “They are staying in a hotel and are scheduled to return on April 26,” he said.

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In a video on social media, a Goan woman, who was part of the tourist group, said they were having lunch in Pahalgam when they heard shots of gunfire. “There was chaos, we saw some wounded tourists running. With the help of locals and our tour guide, we were rescued and brought to Srinagar,” she said.

Ahraz Mulla, who runs another travel company in Goa, said another group had travelled from Goa to Jammu and Kashmir on April 17. “Eight people from this group were in Pahalgam on Tuesday. They were supposed to visit Baisaran, but they were stopped by CRPF officials due to security reasons. So, the group returned to Srinagar in the evening. At the time, we did not know about the terrorist attack and heard about it in the news later,” he said.

Pavneet Singh Chadha

Pavneet Singh Chadha is the Goa Correspondent of The Indian Express. His reporting focuses intensely on the state of Goa, covering major developments in politics, governance, and significant local events, which establishes his high degree of Expertise and Authority in the region. Expertise Geographic Expertise: As the Goa correspondent, Pavneet provides on-the-ground, comprehensive coverage of Goa's political, social, and cultural landscape, ensuring readers receive timely and localized insights. Key Coverage Focus: His recent work demonstrates deep investigative capabilities and a focus on high-impact stories, including: Investigative Reporting: Extensive coverage of complex events such as major incidents (e.g., the Goa nightclub fire), tracing the legal, political, and safety lapses involved. Government and Law Enforcement: Detailed tracking of police actions, deportations, and legal proceedings related to significant local cases. Policy and Governance: Reporting on the judiciary (e.g., Goa High Court flagging illegal structures) and the actions of government departments. He tweets @pub_neat ... Read More

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