Rishi Bhatt, a survivor of the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, shared a chilling account of the events that led to the killing of 26 tourists. In a video which has now gone viral, Bhatt is seen ziplining at the time of the attack when suddenly the zipline operator standing behind him started chanting “Allahu Akbar”.
Bhatt, who was ziplining at the time of the attack, had captured a video showing himself smiling moments before gunfire erupted in the background. Speaking to India Today, he revealed that a zipline operator shouted “Allahu Akbar” three times just as the gunfire erupted in the background.
“We were visiting Kashmir, specifically Pahalgam,” Bhatt recalled.
Before Bhatt took the zipline ride, his wife, son, and four others had already crossed safely. “When they crossed, the operator did not say anything. But when it was my turn, he shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ three times — and then the shooting began,” Bhatt recounted.
Bhatt says it took him 15-20 seconds to realize what’s going on
It took about 15–20 seconds for Bhatt to realize the gravity of the situation. “In my video, you can see a man falling down,” he said. “That’s when it hit me — something terrible was happening. I stopped the zipline, jumped down from about 15 feet, and ran with my wife and son. My only thought was to save our lives.”
Bhatt said they fled through the forest and eventually reached the parking area, before making their way to Srinagar to find safety.
“I was initially enjoying my ropeway ride,” Bhatt said. “My wife was shouting, ‘Please come down, please come down.’ When I looked down, I realized something was seriously wrong. I immediately jumped.”
Bhatt says the terrorists asked people their name before shooting them
He later discussed the horror they narrowly escaped. “Two couples were standing right next to my wife. The terrorist approached them, asked their names and religion, and then shot them. If I had been down there with my wife, I might not have survived.”
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According to Bhatt, the attackers were forcing tourists to recite the Kalma (Islamic declaration of faith). Those who failed were asked their names and religion before being shot.
“I witnessed around 16–18 murders right in front of me,” he said.
Bhatt also described how he hid in a grove for about 15–20 minutes during the shooting. “I lay there until the firing subsided. Once it stopped, I ran from the forest.”
NIA summons the zipline operator chanting ‘Allahu Akbar” in the video
Following the Pahalgam terror attack, the zipline operator heard shouting “Allahu Akbar” in a video has been summoned for questioning by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Jammu and Kashmir Police, according to sources.
Sources revealed that all individuals present at the scene were initially questioned by the investigating agencies after the attack. The zipline operator has now been called in once again for further interrogation.
Pak based terror outfit claims responsibility behind Pahalgam massacre
The April 22 Pahalgam attack, one of the deadliest in the region in years, was claimed by The Resistance Front, a proxy group linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba.
In response to the massacre, India took a series of strong measures against Pakistan, including suspending the Indus Waters Treaty, expelling Pakistani diplomats, closing the Attari-Wagah border crossing, and ordering Pakistani nationals to leave the country. The attack has sparked widespread protests among Indian communities worldwide and intensified criticism of Pakistan.
