Chaitanya with his family (L), Anusha Reddy poses for a photo with his husband, kid (R)
Time Was Key For Some Telugu Families, Distance For Others, AP Techie, Banker Shot Dead In Front Of Families
‘Still in disbelief over how close we came’
Less than 48 hours before Tuesday’s deadly attack, Hyderabad-based techie Anusha Reddy was taking a stroll along the same picturesque roads. So, when news of the massacre broke, she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Even now, my family is reeling under shock…it could have happened to us…we are fortunate to have escaped unharmed,” said Anusha who returned from the valley on Monday, after a week-long vacation with her husband and minor son.
“It’s terrifying to think we were right there just a day earlier,” she said, relieved and distraught at the same time. “When we first saw the news, we didn’t believe it. But then we saw the visuals and realised it was very close to where we were,” she recalled, reiterating how she’s glad that her family is safe.
“Yet, it is tough to process this. We spent our days hiking and enjoying the view of snow-capped mountains. But, now those memories are mixed with this terrible incident and we feel this strange mix of gratitude and disbelief,” Anusha added.
‘Shaken, will take us lot of time to heal’
IT professionals Chaitanya S and his wife were glued to their television sets on Tuesday as news of the attack unfolded. They could not believe what they saw — especially since it was where the couple was holidaying until the weekend. It was their annual break.
“Since we returned on Sunday, we have only been talking about the blissful holiday —riding ponies through meadows, sipping noon chai (Kashmiri pink tea), and soaking in the scenic beauty. Post the attack, those images have blurred. Now, we are only thinking how it could have been us,” said the Chandanagar resident.
His wife and him too had booked themselves a place only 6 km from Baisaran, where the attack took place.
Recalling the moment, he recognised the location on the news, Chaitanya said: “It’s tough to forget… it’s a place straight out of a fairytale, with green meadows, pine trees, and snow-dusted peaks. We spent hours there, had lunch, and left for Delhi in the evening.
The next day, we saw it on the news. We are in shock.” He said the experience of being so close to the attack site has left his family shaken. “We feel incredibly lucky, but also heartbroken for those who lost their loved ones. This trip will stay with us forever—not just for the beauty of Kashmir, but for how close we came to tragedy,” he added.
‘Was there with kid hours before attack’
City-based techie Krishna Chaitanya still in the valley when news of the attack broke. He was in Pahalgam with his wife and seven-year-old son a day before that. “I am still in shock. How could this have happened? It was so peaceful hours ago,” said the techie from Kondapur — his voice thick with disbelief.
“We took a six-day trip to Jammu and Kashmir. Of that, one entire day was dedicated to Pahalgam because it is so breathtaking. We went around the market, clicked dozens of photos, rode ponies …It was peaceful,” he recalled, admitting that it’ll take some time for him to shake off the shock.
Trying to distract himself, the techie went back to sharing his holiday itinerary that began in Srinagar and was peppered with stops at Sonmarg, Pahalgam, and Gulmarg. “This has left a scar on us…I can’t imagine the turmoil it has caused in the lives of those who experienced the trauma,” he said.
