Pahalgam Terror Attack: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis Announces ₹5 Lakh Ex-Gratia for Families of Deceased Tourists

Mumbai, April 23 – Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday announced an ex-gratia relief of ₹5 lakh each to the families of the six victims from Maharashtra who lost their lives in the brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22. The attack, one of the deadliest on civilians in recent years, claimed the lives of 26 tourists in total, six of whom were from Maharashtra.

Expressing his deep condolences, CM Fadnavis said, "It is an irreparable loss. Six people from Maharashtra, including residents of Pune and Mumbai, were among those who lost their lives in the cowardly attack in Pahalgam. The state stands firmly with their families in this moment of grief."

Mortal Remains to Be Brought Home Today

Arrangements for the transportation of the deceased have been made in coordination with the Jammu and Kashmir administration and the Ministry of Civil Aviation:

• Sanjay Lele and Dilip Desale will be flown to Mumbai via an Air India flight departing Srinagar at 12:15 PM.

• Hemant Joshi and Atul Mone are expected to arrive in Mumbai by another flight leaving Srinagar at 1:15 PM.

• Kaustubh Ganbote and Santosh Jagdale, both residents of Pune, will be brought back on a flight departing Srinagar at 6:00 PM.

Ministers Adv. Ashish Shelar and Mangalprabhat Lodha will receive the bodies at Mumbai airport, while Minister Madhuri Misal will be stationed at Pune airport. Additionally, Minister Girish Mahajan has been dispatched to Srinagar to oversee coordination efforts and provide assistance to other stranded tourists from Maharashtra.

Coordinated Relief and Evacuation Efforts

The Maharashtra state government is actively working in tandem with central agencies and the Jammu and Kashmir administration to ensure the swift and safe return of all tourists from the state who were present in the Valley at the time of the attack.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who cut short his official visit to Saudi Arabia in light of the attack, strongly condemned the incident, labeling it a "heinous act of terror." He directed Home Minister Amit Shah to visit Srinagar and personally oversee the security and relief operations. Shah arrived in Srinagar late Tuesday night.

Search Operation Underway

Security forces have launched a large-scale manhunt in the valley to locate the perpetrators. The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the attack. Initial reports suggest that the assailants targeted tourists based on their religious identity, further heightening tensions.

Survivors and families of the victims continue to reel from the emotional trauma, as stories of narrow escapes and chaos unfold. Psychological support and helplines have been activated for affected families.