They left with smiles, came back in coffins: Pahalgam terror attack victims come home to tears

NEW DELHI: As coffins draped in tricolour arrived across India on Thursday, homes turned into scenes of unspeakable sorrow. Families who had waved goodbye to their loved ones just days ago now stood numb, receiving the mortal remains of men— all victims of the devastating Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 28 lives.
From vacation to funeral: Shubham’s final journey
In Hathipur village of Uttar Pradesh, the night grew heavier with grief as Shubham Dwivedi’s body arrived. A young man full of life, his journey ended not in scenic Kashmir, but in a wooden coffin.

The procession moved silently towards Dyodhi Ghat, where his last rites were to be performed. His home, once bustling with plans, now echoed with prayers and sobs.

Silent return of an airman: Arunachal’s Tage Hailyang
In the pre-dawn hours, Guwahati received the body of IAF Corporal Tage Hailyang. The young man from Arunachal Pradesh had travelled to Kashmir for a holiday — a well-earned break that ended in tragedy.

His coffin was met with silence and tears, his sacrifice etched into the hearts of his family and fellow servicemen.
Birthday dream turns into nightmare in Surat
In Gujarat, 44-year-old Shailesh Kalathiya had been looking forward to celebrating his birthday in Kashmir with his wife and two kids. Instead, the family returned with memories marred by bullets.

His wife Sheetal broke down in Surat, openly questioning the lack of safety for tourists, as mourners gathered in the Mota Varachha area for his final rites.
Balasore accountant shot in front of son
Prasant Kumar Satpathy, an accountant from Balasore district in Odisha, was on a peaceful vacation with his wife and nine-year-old son. Instead, he was shot dead in front of them.

On Thursday, his remains reached his village in Baleswar, where family and neighbours received him with folded hands and wet eyes.
Anniversary plans end in mourning in Raipur
Raipur’s Samta Colony fell silent as Dinesh Miraniya’s body arrived. A businessman, Dinesh was on holiday with his family to mark his 20th wedding anniversary.

What was meant to be a time of celebration ended with a bullet. He succumbed to his injuries after being shot in the Baisaran Valley — his family returned shattered.
Three friends, one tragic return to Dombivli
In Maharashtra’s Dombivli, three coffins arrived together — those of Atul Mone, Sanjay Lele and Hemant Joshi. Close friends, they had embarked on a summer vacation with their families.

They returned home side by side, lifeless. Thousands assembled at Bhagshala Ground to bid them farewell, united in grief.
A name that became a target in Bengaluru
In Bengaluru, the story of 35-year-old techie Bharath Bhushan was one of fatal irony. When confronted by militants, he identified himself proudly: “My name is Bharath.”

The terrorists pulled the trigger, mistaking him — or targeting him — for Bharat, the Hindi name for India. He was shot in front of his wife and toddler son. His body returned to a home now frozen in trauma.
Dubai finance manager’s trip ends in Death
Niraj Udhwani, a 32-year-old finance professional from Rajasthan, had flown in from Dubai with his wife for a friend's wedding and a long-awaited trip to Kashmir.

On April 22, militants opened fire in Baisaran Valley. Niraj was among the first to fall. His mother, already widowed, now mourns her youngest son.
Software engineer from Bengaluru dies mid-doliday
In Chennai, the body of Madhusudhan Rao arrived for cremation. A resident of Bengaluru and a software engineer with IBM, he had taken his family on a short summer trip to Kashmir.

He told neighbours he’d be back by Friday. Instead, his coffin came home on Thursday — his wife and children returned with the weight of a nightmare no one saw coming.
A country in mourning
From Uttar Pradesh to Tamil Nadu, Arunachal to Gujarat, coffins lined up for cremation. These weren’t soldiers but ordinary citizens — tourists, professionals — cut down by a brutal act of terror. Their return, marked by state salutes and funeral processions, leaves behind a trail of grief that stretches across India.
Their dreams ended in the meadows of Pahalgam. Their stories now live on through their loved ones — and a nation determined to never forget.
Asavari Jagdale performs last rites of father
Karvenagar resident Santosh Jagdale, 50, wore many hats — interior decorator, insurance agent, and a self-made businessman. But to those closest to him, he was best known for being a family man who cherished every opportunity to explore new places.

“He was the kindest soul you’d ever meet,” said his brother Ajay Jagdale, recalling how Santosh balanced work and wanderlust with ease. “No matter how packed his schedule, he always made time for family trips. Those meant the world to him.”
Santosh had set out on one such trip with loved ones when tragedy struck in Pahalgam. The terror attack on Tuesday not only ended his life, but also devastated the lives of those who loved him most.
On Thursday, in a deeply emotional moment, Santosh’s daughter Asavari led her father’s final rites in Pune. With trembling hands and tear-filled eyes, she lit the funeral pyre — a heartbreaking act of strength that left many at the cremation ground in Karvenagar speechless.