Jahangeer Ganaie
Pahalgam, Apr 24: In an extraordinary act of courage and compassion, Nazakat Ahmad Shah, a 28-year-old resident of Halwan Ganiegund in Pahalgam, risked his life on Tuesday to rescue 11 tourists from Chhattisgarh who were caught in crossfire at Baisaran, Pahalgam.
Nazakat, a tourist guide, said the group of 11 tourists, including three children, arrived in Kashmir on the 17th of this month.
“We welcomed them at Jammu and explored every corner of Kashmir, including Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Srinagar. Finally, we brought them to Pahalgam, as we had promised to show them the true hospitality of our region,” he said.
On Tuesday, Nazakat recounted how they enjoyed their time at Baisaran until they suddenly heard gunfire, initially mistaking it for firecrackers. “However, as the firing continued, everyone dropped to the ground to protect themselves,” he said.
In a moment of bravery, Shah spotted a gap in the boundary around Baisaran and carried three children in his arms, urging the other tourists to follow him. “While the firing was happening, I tried to call home to speak to my children one last time, but the network was too weak,” he said.
Despite the chaos, Nazakat successfully led the group out of Baisaran Park and rushed them to a hotel in Pahalgam for safety. On Wednesday, he assisted them in reaching Srinagar Airport, where they boarded a flight home safely.
Tragically, during the attack, a pony rider named Aadil Shah, who was Nazakat’s cousin, lost his life. “I couldn’t attend the last rites because my first priority was getting the guests home safely,” he said.
Nazakat said the people of Kashmir are united against such acts of violence and are calling for an investigation into the incident and action against those responsible.
