Once again, the valley of Kashmir echoed but not to sing the songs of the fresh air and the greenest meadows but a kind of song that will make your heart ache. This time it is Pahalgam where Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, just 26, brought his new bride for their honeymoon and lost his life along with 27 people.
Just days before, the young couple had celebrated their wedding was full of laughter, hopes, and dreams for a long life together. They chose this peaceful paradise to start their journey. But no one knew that he would lose his life in the arms of terror.
Corporate Soldiers brings you the story of Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, with a heavy heart, who lost his life in a horrifying terror attack in Pahalgam.
The Gruesome Attack That Shook Pahalgam
That April day, the 22nd of 2025, should have been remembered for sunshine and laughter in the beautiful meadows of Pahalgam. Families were together, enjoying picnics, it was supposed to be a usual day. Children were playing, their sounds echoing in the clear mountain air.
The moment when the quiet was encircling the woods, terror emerged. This was the exact moment when heavily armed attackers stormed into the clearing and needless to say that their presence instantly shattered the calm. They came towards the tourists who didn’t expect anything and then wildly began to shoot them. Not only this was a deliberate attack but also surpassed the cruelty on innocent people.
Now, the stories of this nightmare are coming forth as survivors speak their hearts out. How the terrorists specifically targeted the men and how they demanded names from people. They demanded to know their religion. Some were forced, under the threat of immediate death, to try and recite Islamic verses. Those who could not, the sentence was swift and brutal. They were shot instantly. And this is exactly how they targeted non-muslim tourists among people. Not even in the chaos of crossfire, but purposefully, mercilessly, at point-blank range. Soon, the green grass of the peaceful meadow became stained with blood. These are the chilling stories that survivors speak of, and we find it absolutely heart wrenching.
The Story of Lieutenant Vinay Narwal
You know that feeling? When you’re young, just married, and you want to start your life together somewhere truly special? You pick the most beautiful place you can imagine, maybe somewhere people call ‘paradise on earth’. For Lieutenant Vinay Narwal, that place was Kashmir. He was just 26, a soul full of life and dreams. He and his new bride were on their honeymoon. Even just days before they got married on April 16th and then celebrated their reception filled with laughter and family on the 19th.
They were right at the beginning, imagining decades stretching out ahead of them. And they chose peaceful, stunning Pahalgam for their first trip as a husband and wife. A bright young Navy officer from Haryana, he was the only son his parents had. He had joined the Navy just two years earlier, serving our country down in Kochi, building a life he could be proud of. His wedding must have been such a happy moment for everyone.
Like many other tourists, he and his wife were simply enjoying a beautiful spring morning in the Baisaran Valley. It was then the armed attackers burst into their peaceful gathering.
We all know now, what happened next is chilling. They killed males first. In this list of survivors, includes Vinay’s heartbroken wife. She recalls each horrific detail of how the terrorists singled people out, demanding they prove their religion. When Vinay was identified as Hindu, he was shot. He was shot in the chest, neck, and arm, mercilessly. At point-blank range, right before his newly wedded wife. She survived, but carries a wound no words can heal.
Innocent Lives Are Lost
Lieutenant Vinay Narwal wasn’t the only one who became a target of brutality but there were 27 other innocent lives who lost their lives in a brutal act of targeted violence. It has shaken us to the core. This is the kind of news that no one wants to face as it makes your heartache.
We can’t even imagine what Vinay’s parents are going through. Their only son, is gone forever. It’s unthinkable. And his young wife, even more tragic. One minute she’s living the happiest days of her life, the next, it’s turned into an absolute nightmare. For all his friends and the people he served with in the Navy, there’s just this huge hole now where their bright, committed friend used to be.
Who Were The Perpetrators?
It’s hard to grasp the scale of this tragedy. In total, at least 28 innocent people lost their lives that day mainly visitors from other parts of India. On top of that, more than a dozen others were injured, their lives changed forever by the violence they experienced. They are now traumatized for life.
This brutal act of cowardice was done by ‘The Resistance Front’, which is believed to be connected to the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba. They claimed responsibility for this brutal attack. However, official confirmation is pending.
What we do know is that this attack stands out for its sheer brutality against ordinary and innocent people. It’s been described as the most devastating attack targeting civilians in Kashmir in a long time, leaving behind so much pain and grief.
Victims:
As the news of this attack spread like ripples across the entire country. It wasn’t just one community affected; the people who lost their lives came from everywhere. Families from Maharashtra and Haryana, people from West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh, and tourists from Bihar, Punjab, Kerala, Gujarat, Karnataka, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh. Tragically, tourists from Nepal and people from Jammu & Kashmir itself were also among those killed.
The dead included men, women, and children, many of whom were on family vacations or pilgrimages. They must have made a plan for these outings months in advance. Maharashtra alone lost five of its citizens, while others are being treated for injuries.
While Our Nation Mourns, World Comes Together in Solidarity
Our entire nation is mourning at this news. This terrible massacre just sent shockwaves of sadness and anger across the entire country, and even around the world.
The reaction was swift as our Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia and flew straight back to India. Immediately, he called an urgent meeting with his top security people and made a promise. The promise is that the people responsible for this horror ‘will not be spared.’ Also, Home Minister Amit Shah and other key leaders didn’t waste any time either; they rushed to Srinagar to manage the situation on the ground.
Leaders from other countries too came in support of India. US President Donald Trump, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu spoke out strongly and condemned the attack. They said they stand with India during this awful time.
In country, from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, people are doing candle marches, and peaceful protests, and even shops are being closed down for a while, all in memory of those who were lost. Similarly, voices from Bollywood and other well-known figures joined in, demanding justice and saying loud and clear that this kind of terrorism has to stop.
Major Terrorist Attacks in Jammu & Kashmir in Last 10 Years:
The brutality and loss of life have led us to think of this attack as ‘one of the deadliest attacks in the region since the 2019 Pulwama bombing’ and undoubtedly ‘the deadliest since the abrogation of Article 370’ later that same year. See what has the valley been through in last 10 years-
| When | Where | Perpetrators | Deaths | Details |
| April 22, 2025 | Pahalgam | The Resistance Front | 28 | Attack on tourists |
| Nov. 2024 | Srinagar, Lal Chowk | Lashkar-e-Taiba | 12 injured | Grenade attack |
| July 9, 2024 | Kathua | Unknown | 5 | Attack on army convoy |
| June 9, 2024 | Reasi | The Resistance Front | 9 | Attack on hindu pilgrims |
| Dec. 21, 2023 | Unspecified | Unknown | 5 | Ambush on army vehicle |
| May 5, 2023 | Rajouri | People’s Anti-Fascist Front | 5 | IED blast |
| April 20, 2023 | Poonch | People’s Anti-Fascist Front | 5 | Ambush on army vehicle |
| Jan 1, 2023 | Rajouri | Unknown | 4 | Attack on civilians |
| Aug. 11, 2022 | Rajouri | People’s Anti-Fascist Front | 5 | Foiled suicide attack |
| Dec. 12 2021 | Srinagar | Jaish-e-Mohammed | 3 | Ambush on police vehicle |
We Stand Together!
India mourns, but we all citizens stand together. Corporate Soldiers believes that there will be resolve, there will be justice, and there will be no surrender to terror. While our heart bleeds for the lives lost, we stand together to affirm that we will not surrender to terror.
| Helpline | Place | Helpline Numbers |
| Emergency Control Room | Srinagar | 0194-2457543, 0194-2483651,7006058623 |
| Police Control Room | Anantnag | 9596777669, 01932-225870, WhatsApp: 9419051940 |
| Tourist Department | J&K | 8899931010, 8899941010, 9906663868, 9906906115 |
