At least 24 people were killed on Tuesday when gunmen opened fire on a group of tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir, marking the deadliest assault on civilians in the region in recent years, according to a senior police officer.

The attack occurred in the popular summer destination of Pahalgam, around 90 kilometers from Srinagar, the capital of Jammu and Kashmir. Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos and horror, with tour guide Waheed, who helped transport the wounded on horseback, recalling, “I saw a few men lying on the ground looking like they were dead.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly condemned the “heinous act,” promising that those responsible “will be brought to justice.” Home Minister Amit Shah announced he is traveling to the site and vowed severe consequences for the perpetrators.

No group has yet claimed responsibility, but the region has been plagued by an armed insurgency since 1989, with militant groups demanding either independence or a merger with Pakistan, which controls a portion of the disputed territory.

Local medics in Anantnag confirmed receiving multiple injured individuals, including at least two with gunshot wounds and one with a bullet lodged in the neck.

Reactions have poured in from across the political spectrum. Jammu and Kashmir’s former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah called it “much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years,” while opposition leader Rahul Gandhi labeled the attack “heartbreaking” and urged accountability from the federal government.

Former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti initially reported five deaths and strongly condemned the “cowardly attack on tourists.”

The tragedy follows a high-profile visit to India by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, and comes amid government efforts to promote Kashmir as a peaceful tourist haven. In 2024 alone, the region welcomed around 3.5 million tourists.

Despite a decline in violence since India revoked the region’s limited autonomy in 2019, this attack underscores the fragile security situation. Authorities say the crackdown and heavy military presence have not eliminated the threat of terrorism.

India continues to accuse Pakistan of supporting insurgents, a charge Islamabad denies, claiming it only backs the Kashmiri people’s right to self-determination.

This marks the worst civilian attack in Kashmir since 2000, when 36 Indian civilians were killed, and evokes painful memories of the 2019 Pulwama bombing, which claimed 40 paramilitary lives.