An uneasy calm has settled over Gagangir, a picturesque hamlet nestled among mountains and dense forests along the Srinagar-Leh National Highway, following a deadly attack that claimed the lives of seven employees of an infrastructure company, including a local doctor.
The attack occurred at the campsite of workers engaged in the nearly completed 6.5-km Z-Morh tunnel in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. This incident marks the first attack at a major infrastructure project site in Jammu and Kashmir in nearly three decades of terrorism.
Initial reactions from villagers reflected shock; some mistook the sounds of gunfire for fireworks from a nearby wedding celebration. Three days after the attack, a chilling silence envelops the area, typically considered the gateway to the famous Sonamarg hill resort. The Z-Morh tunnel, once completed, is expected to significantly enhance connectivity to Ladakh.
In response to the incident, security forces have intensified their anti-terrorist operations, with numerous police vehicles stationed near the campsite to monitor the movement of both civilians and tourists along the strategic highway.
Mohd Afzal, recalls the chaos of the fateful evening. Fixing his clay stove inside his single-storey house, he struggles to reconcile with the violence he witnessed just a stone’s throw away.
“We couldn’t comprehend what was happening at first. The gunfire terrified us all, especially the children. I thought it was firecrackers from the wedding across the road,” he remembers. “But when the shooting escalated, I realized something serious was unfolding.”
Afzal, who works for the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Project Beacon, has never before seen such brutality in his otherwise peaceful area, even during the height of Kashmir’s terrorism.
Just 100 meters from Afzal’s house, the atmosphere at his neighbor Shabir Khan’s residence was festive, as the family celebrated the marriage of Khan’s daughter. The wedding, scheduled for Monday, brought an air of celebration, with women dancing and singing traditional songs, their joy masking the sound of gunfire and cries for help.
“Everyone was so engrossed in the wedding celebrations. The noise from the drums and generators drowned out the reality of the attack,” recalls Rubeena, the bride’s sister-in-law.
Rahim, another family member, shares his shock at the event. “We were so preoccupied with the wedding that we didn’t realize the terrorists were attacking the workers at the construction site right across from us. This area has always been peaceful. I’ve never seen anything like this before,” he says.
The attack has left the villagers in shock and has also severely affected the workers and security personnel. Kulbir Singh, a private security guard at the construction site for over two years, had just returned to his camp after duty when the gunfire erupted.
“I was washing my uniform when I heard the shots. Initially, I thought it was fireworks from the wedding, but when reality struck, my colleagues and I quickly turned off the lights and took cover,” Singh recalls.
After the traumatic experience, Singh has decided to quit his job and return to his village, joining several colleagues who have made the same choice. “Who would want to risk their life working night shifts here? I never imagined I’d leave so soon,” he laments.
His colleague Ankit also plans to resign. Recounting the harrowing night, he says he was inside the mess when the gunshots rang out. “At first, we thought it was fireworks, but the terrorists kept firing and even set one vehicle on fire. The driver narrowly escaped,” he explains.
In the aftermath of the attack, police and the Army swiftly cordoned off the area, launching a massive manhunt to apprehend the attackers. The community is left grappling with the impact of the violence, mourning the loss of life and seeking a return to the peace they once knew.