Pahalgam Terror Attack: Navi Mumbai Family Saved By Child's Hunger

The Pahalgam terror attack marks one of the most brutal assaults on civilians in the region in recent years and has left the picturesque town in Kashmir, a popular tourist destination, cloaked in fear and mourning.

Amid this carnage, a family from Navi Mumbai narrowly avoided becoming part of the casualty count, thanks to a toddler’s simple request for food. Speaking to a Marathi news channel, Anna Saheb Tekale, the grandfather of the boy, recounted the twist of fate that spared his loved ones from the terror attack.

Tekale’s son, accompanied by 25 other family members and friends, had set out that morning for a sightseeing trip to Pahalgam on Tuesday. But just a few kilometres short of the town, Tekale’s young grandchild began to cry for food. The family pulled over at a roadside eatery to pacify him. That unscheduled halt caused a crucial delay, just enough to keep them from reaching the area at the time of the attack.

“I came to know about the Pahalgam attack only later in the evening. My son had called me a couple of times during the day, but I couldn’t take the calls as I was busy at work. Around 7pm, I saw the news on TV and my hands began to tremble. My legs gave way. I panicked, not knowing whether my family was safe," Tekale told the channel.

After several failed attempts, he finally managed to get through to his son, who informed him that the police had stopped their vehicle around 3-4 kilometres from Pahalgam. The area had already been sealed off following the attack, and no further movement was being allowed. Ironically, their delay – the result of a child’s hunger – likely saved them from walking into the massacre site.

As investigations into the Pahalgam terror attack continue, authorities are yet to confirm the identity of the attackers or their affiliation. Meanwhile, security has been tightened across Jammu and Kashmir, and tourist movements are being closely monitored.