As the first anniversary of the Pahalgam attack approaches, families of the victims say the pain of losing their loved ones has not faded and may never do so.
Sangeeta Ganbote, wife of Kaustubh Ganbote, said she continues to live in deep grief after her husband was killed in the attack. “The attack in Pahalgam was very dangerous. I will not be able to forget it till my last breath. I am always in grief after my husband’s death,” she said.
Sending a message against violence, she added, “If your fight is with the government, then you should talk to them. Nothing will be achieved by killing ordinary people.”
‘Not a Single Day Without Remembering Him’
Priyadarshini Acharya, wife of Prasanta Kumar Satpathy, said life has completely changed since the attack took away her husband, who was the family’s main breadwinner.
“It’s been almost a year. Life goes on, but not a single day has passed that I haven’t remembered him,” she said. “When he was here, life was different. The temporary job I had then has now become necessary to survive.”
She also urged the government to fulfil its promises. “We received financial help, but the government job that was promised has not been given yet. I request the government to fulfil its promises as soon as possible,” she said.
Families Recall Horror of the Attack
Relatives of the victims continue to remember the terrifying moments of April 22, 2025, when armed assailants opened fire on civilians in Pahalgam, killing 26 people.
A family member of one victim recalled how the attackers allegedly asked people about their religion before shooting them. “We were taking pictures and enjoying our trip. Within an hour, everything changed. A man came with a gun and people were shot,” she said.
She described the past year as “hell” for her family and added that many other families are going through the same pain.
India’s Response and Aftermath
Following the attack, India launched Operation Sindoor targeting “terror bases in Pakistan”.
Officials said the operation hit camps linked to groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Hizbul Mujahideen, killing over 100 militants.
The escalation led to cross-border tensions before a ceasefire was reached.
Pain, Promises and the Struggle to Move On
While the government announced financial aid and support measures for the victims’ families, many say not all promises have been fulfilled.
For families like that of Priyadarshini, the wait for stable support continues. “In other states, jobs have been given based on qualifications. I just want what was promised to us,” she said.
Despite the grief, some families are trying to move forward, though the emotional loss remains deep.
As the country marks one year since the attack, the families say their fight is not just about remembering their loved ones, but also about justice and accountability.
“The pain will never go away,” one family member said, “but we want the promises made to us to be fulfilled.”
