Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir: A Karnataka family’s leisurely vacation to the scenic Baisaran meadows in Pahalgam turned into a harrowing tale of survival when a brutal terror attack ripped through the tranquility of the region on April 22. Pradeep Hegde, his wife Shubha, and their 12-year-old son Siddhant found themselves in the crossfire, their lives hanging precariously in the balance. In an exclusive recount, the family shared the chilling details of their miraculous escape, where a child’s whim for food and a strand of hair played pivotal roles in their survival.
The Hegde family’s Kashmir sojourn began with their arrival in Srinagar on April 21, followed by a trip to Pahalgam the next morning. Baisaran, often dubbed ‘Mini Switzerland’ for its breathtaking beauty, was high on their list of places to explore. They hired three horses for the arduous, muddy trek to the top of the meadows. After an hour and fifteen minutes, they reached their destination, soaking in the picturesque views.
Around 1:45 PM, as they contemplated heading towards the adventure activity zone, young Siddhant’s hunger pangs intervened. Despite their initial plan to eat later, Siddhant’s insistence led them towards the makeshift food stalls. They ordered Maggi noodles, a simple meal that would unknowingly become a crucial element in their survival story.
While waiting for the food, Shubha went to use the restroom, located about 500 meters away. As she returned to pay, the family had already eaten. She hurriedly consumed her noodles, a sequence of events that placed her away from the immediate line of fire just moments later.
“About 15-20 seconds later, we saw two guys with big guns. They were shooting continuously,” Pradeep recounted, his voice still tinged with the horror of the moment. One terrorist moved towards the lower part of the valley, while the other advanced towards them. Initially, the family mistook the sounds for celebratory firecrackers, a common occurrence in some regions.
As the reality of the situation dawned upon them, they instinctively lay down on the ground. It was then that Shubha remembered their bag containing their IDs and phones, which was on a nearby table. Driven by the urgency of securing their essential documents, she got up. In that split second, a bullet whizzed past her right ear, grazing her hair.
“Something touched my hair,” Shubha recalled, the disbelief still evident in her voice. “I didn’t realize it was a bullet at first, but the force made me turn – I saw it had hit the floor. God saved me.” Unaware of the near-fatal miss, Pradeep heard someone shout, urging people to run towards the gate.
“I was 100 percent sure we were going to die,” Pradeep admitted, the memory of the sheer terror still vivid. However, Shubha’s unwavering confidence, repeatedly asserting that “nothing will happen,” became their anchor in the chaos.
The rush towards the valley’s gate created a stampede-like situation, and in the melee, their son Siddhant fell. Amidst the panic, they spotted their horseman hiding behind a tree, alive but terrified. He agreed to help them escape. Siddhant, exhausted and unable to walk further, was placed on one of the runaway horses by the horseman. He then found two more horses for Pradeep and Shubha, guiding them safely downhill, away from the carnage and back to life.
The terror attack in Pahalgham claimed the lives of 26 people and left many others injured, casting a dark shadow over the otherwise serene landscape. The Hegde family’s miraculous escape stands as a testament to the unpredictable nature of life and the unexpected twists of fate that can determine survival in the face of unimaginable horror. Their story serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of peace and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of terror.
