Bhubaneswar: A dream vacation turned tragic for 43-year-old Prasant Kumar Satpathy from Odisha's Balasore district when terrorists attacked tourists in Kashmir's Baisaran valley on Tuesday. Prasant, who had meticulously planned and saved for this trip with his wife and nine-year-old son, was among 28 tourists killed in the Pahalgam terror attack.
"We were just landing from a ropeway after a joyride when I heard gunshots. I initially presumed it was firecrackers. But all of a sudden one bullet hit my husband's head and he fell down. Before I could think of anything, he had died," recounted his devastated wife Priyadarshini to relatives over phone.
The CIPET (Central Institute of Plastics Engineering and Technology) accounts assistant had recently availed his LTC benefit to visit Kashmir, often called "heaven on earth." His elder brother Sushant revealed, "He saved money for months to afford the trip. He was so excited. But when we got the call from his wife, we could not believe it. She was disconsolate."
In his native Saragaon panchayat, where Prasant was known for his selfless nature, grief has engulfed the community. "Prasant was so full of life, always putting others before himself. He wanted to show snow to his family. He used to keep saying, let them see heaven on earth. We still cannot believe he is no more," a relative shared.
The Jammu and Kashmir police have confirmed that another Odisha native, 65-year-old Shashi Kumari, was injured in the same attack and is currently receiving treatment at Government Medical College, Anantnag.
Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi have condemned the attack, with the CM posting on X: "Violence has no place in our society. Heartfelt condolences to those who lost their lives. Praying for the speedy recovery of the injured. Odisha stands in solidarity with the victims and their families during this difficult time."
The Pahalgam terror attack has raised fresh security concerns for tourism in the Kashmir Valley, even as authorities vow to bring the perpetrators to justice.
