In the wake of the recent terror attack on a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district, Bollywood celebrities have expressed their grief and condemnation. The attack, which occurred on June 9, resulted in the deaths of nine people, including a two-year-old child, and left 33 others injured.
Priyanka Chopra was among the first to react, calling the attack “heinous” and expressing her devastation on Instagram. She questioned the targeting of civilians and children, reflecting on the growing hatred witnessed globally. Chopra, known for her humanitarian efforts as a UNICEF ambassador, has previously raised her voice against violence and humanitarian crises.
Other celebrities, including Rupali Ganguly, Rashmika Mandanna, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Richa Chadha, Mohit Raina, Preity Zinta, and Bipasha Basu, also mourned the victims. Richa Chadha condemned the attack on X, labeling it as an act of cowardice against peaceful pilgrims. Filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar shared his condolences and prayers for the victims and their families.
The attack occurred when terrorists opened fire on a bus returning from the Shiv Khori temple to Katra. Eyewitnesses recounted the horror, describing how the bus veered off the road into a deep gorge after the driver was shot. Survivors recalled playing dead to avoid further firing from the terrorists. Santosh Kumar Verma, a survivor from Uttar Pradesh, described seeing the driver’s head fall onto the steering wheel before the bus crashed.
In response, the Indian Army launched a search operation in the dense forest areas of Reasi district. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and drones have been deployed to aid in the operation. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha condemned the attack as a despicable attempt to create turmoil in Jammu, emphasizing that all injured individuals are receiving the best possible medical care. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who recently took oath for his third term, took stock of the situation and directed immediate medical assistance for the injured.
The Resistance Front (TRF), a shadow group of the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba terror outfit, initially claimed responsibility for the attack but later retracted its statement. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility of a fourth individual acting as a lookout for the terrorists.
The survivors’ accounts highlight the attack’s brutality. Rajat Ram Verma, who lost his 14-year-old son, recounted the chaos and terror as the bus fell into the gorge. The security forces, comprising police, army, and CRPF units, are conducting a joint operation to neutralize the terrorists despite the challenging terrain, which includes dense forests, steep slopes, and natural hideouts.
This attack has united the nation in grief and condemnation, with Bollywood celebrities and the public expressing their sorrow and anger. The incident underscores the ongoing threat of terrorism and the need for vigilance and resilience in the face of such atrocities. As the search operations continue, the nation stands in solidarity with the victims and their families, hoping for justice and peace.
