- By Priyanka Koul
- Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:56 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Pahalgam Terror Attack: A year is set to pass since the tragic Pahalgam terror attack, with the first anniversary falling on Wednesday, April 22, 2026. While the violence has long subsided, the pain and trauma continue to haunt the survivors and the families of the victims.
For the families of the 26 individuals who were gunned down by terrorists, the grief remains raw as they struggle to rebuild their lives after the tragedy. The Indian government retaliated to the terror act by launching “Operation Sindoor".
Though public attention has gradually shifted away, the affected families say their suffering remains unchanged, with the loss still as sharp as it was on that day.
Speaking to news agency PTI, the father of Indian Navy officer Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, who was killed in the April 22 attack, remembered his son on the first anniversary and said his life had virtually ended when he received the news of his son’s death.
“… My life virtually ended on hearing the news, now I am just breathing to survive…” he said.
Asavari Jagdale, daughter of Santosh Jagdale, who was also killed in the attack, spoke about the emotional toll on her family and others who share a similar grief.
She said the past year has been extremely difficult as the family lost a loved one and continues to struggle for the fulfilment of promises made by the government.
Asavari also highlighted that at least 25 other families have endured similar pain, many having witnessed the deaths of their loved ones firsthand.
“This one year was very difficult for me and my family. It would have been equally tough for the 25 other families who lost their loved ones in front of their eyes… We have been through hell in the last one year- losing a loved one and struggling for all the promises made by the government… My father was a firm support to me and my mother…” she told news agency PTI.
Priyadarshini Acharya, wife of Prasanta Kumar Satapathy, one of the 26 victims, described how the incident completely altered her life and responsibilities.
She said that although a year has passed, every day still reminds her of her husband.
“… My husband died in the Pahalgam terror attack. A year has passed, yet each day reminds me of him… Everything has drastically changed after his demise, including my life and perspective… The government had promised back then to provide a government job, financial aid for my child’s education and financial assistance…” she told news agency ANI.
Pragati Jagdale, wife of Santosh Jagdale, said the family endured immense hardship but acknowledged that the government fulfilled its commitments.
“A year has passed, but I am still stuck on 22 April 2026 Pahalgam attack… I did not know that he was no more; I thought maybe he had passed out, but he will survive once we take him to the hospital… Our government understood our pain and carried out Operation Sindoor… I would like to urge the government to ensure that such things never happen again… After the incident, we had to go through a lot, but the government fulfilled all of their promises… The 26 families who were affected in the Pahalgam attack will never be able to get over it… I hope that they recruit more forces into the Indian army to ensure the safety of people in such places, which would also give employment to the unemployed youth of the country…” she said.