Cuttack: An Odia couple narrowly escaped the terror attack in Pahalgam by returning home just hours before the incident on Tuesday. Arunansu Satpathy, a LIC development officer, and his wife Chinmayee, of Link Road area, had been vacationing in the Kashmir valley when fate intervened. “We stayed in Pahalgam for two days and left on Tuesday due to rainy weather,” said Arunansu. The couple had originally planned to visit Baisaran meadow, the site where the terror attack took place.
Their premature departure, prompted by prior commitments in Odisha, proved fortuitous. “We feel extremely lucky. Had we stayed back as planned, we could have been caught in the chaos. It was a decision that probably saved our lives,” Arunansu added.
Despite the incident, Arunansu noted the region’s vibrant tourism scene during their visit. “Popular spots like Gulmarg, Sonamarg, and Srinagar were bustling with visitors,” he said.