Pahalgam attack: CM Siddaramaiah orders emergency airlift for Karnataka tourists stranded in Kashmir

NEW DELHI: Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah has ordered officials to arrange a special airlift operation to evacuate over 40 Kannadiga tourists stranded in Kashmir following a recent terrorist attack.
The state government has deployed response teams and sent minister Santosh Lad to oversee relief efforts, while also assuring families of safe repatriation of all affected individuals.
"More than 40 Kannadigas who had gone on a trip to Kashmir have been stranded due to the terrorist attack, and I have instructed the authorities to arrange a special flight to bring all of them safely back to their homeland," Siddaramaiah announced on social media platform X.
"Our government has taken action with the resolve to bring every Kannadiga back to the state safely. No one needs to worry," the chief minister added in his post.
Karnataka BJP MP Tejasvi Surya and minister Santosh Lad met with the wife and son of Manjunath, one of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, offering their full support during this difficult period.
Union minister Pralhad Joshi confirmed that three Karnataka residents lost their lives in the Pahalgam terror attack. He mentioned that an additional flight has been arranged for Karnataka after discussions with the minister of Civil Aviation.
A National Investigation Agency (NIA) team, led by a Deputy Inspector General-rank officer, visited the attack site at Baisaran, approximately five kilometers from Pahalgam town in Kashmir's Anantnag district. The team will assist the Jammu and Kashmir Police in investigating what is being considered the deadliest assault on civilians in the region in almost two decades.
According to official sources, this incident represents one of the most significant terror attacks since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. The NIA team visited the site one day after terrorists attacked a group of tourists in the Baisaran meadow near Pahalgam.
The state government's swift response includes immediate deployment of response teams and coordination with central authorities to ensure the safe return of stranded tourists. The situation has prompted a coordinated effort between state and central agencies to address both the immediate evacuation needs and the investigation of the terror attack.