Kamothe resident Subodh Patil, injured survivors from the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, returned safely to his residence late Thursday night. Patil, who had been undergoing treatment at the Army hospital following the brutal assault, was welcomed back by local officials and community members.
Kamothe Senior Inspector Vimal Bidave confirmed the homecoming. “Patil returned on Thursday night and we met with him on Friday morning. It was a brief visit, but we expressed our relief and extended our best wishes. Considering the trauma and hardship the family faced, it was truly heartening to see them safe,” she said.
Patil was among the 39 tourists who had travelled to the picturesque valley with his wife on a tour organized by Nisarg Paryatan. Speaking to the media from his Kamothe residence, Patil recounted the horrific events that unfolded in Baisaran Valley.
Patil along with his wife were heading to the Baisaran Meadow on April 22." We had travelled on horses and after entering the meadow were exploring the area, when suddenly loud gunshots rang out. Tourists started running in panic, but the area was enclosed with no escape route. Most people sat down in fear. A terrorist approached and demanded that Hindus stand up. Then the shooting began. A bullet grazed my neck and I lost consciousness,” Patil recalled.
“When I regained consciousness, I was surrounded by dead bodies. I couldn’t find my wife. A local horseman came to my aid, carried me to the entrance gate, and gave me water. A biker then transported me to a hospital where I finally saw my wife and received immediate treatment,” he said.
Due to the severity of his injuries, Patil was admitted to the Army hospital in Pahalgam and remained under care for several days. An official from the travel agency organizing the tour confirmed that Patil was the final tourist from their group to return. “We had been informed by the hospital that he would be discharged only upon full recovery. We are relieved he is now home safely,” the official stated.
The attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people including six tourists from Maharashtra, has sent shockwaves across the country. Local MLA Prashant Thakur has announced plans to personally meet Patil and his family on Saturday. “He was the last of the group to return. His son had been attending to him at the hospital. I will be visiting them to offer support,” said Thakur.
