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On Tuesday, April 22, 2025, the peaceful hills of Baisaran in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, were shattered by a brutal terrorist attack that claimed the lives of 29 civilians and left many others injured. The incident, which occurred around 2:45 PM, involved unprovoked firing by four suspected terrorists. The Resistance Front, a proxy of the banned Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility. This tragic event marks the deadliest terror strike since the 2019 Pulwama attack, once again bringing the specter of violence to South Kashmir.
Beyond the immediate physical devastation, such attacks leave deep and lasting psychological wounds. Survivors, eyewitnesses, and families of the victims are at high risk of developing Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)—a serious mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing traumatic events. [1]
Dr. Theresa Lily Thomas, BDS, shared her thoughts on the matter at MedBound Hub:
The victims and those affected families will suffer from PTSD for a long time now. Any loud noise will give them a trigger and maybe a panic attack. What should be the measures taken in this regard or treatment given to those affected?
Dr. Theresa Lily Thomas, BDS
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), PTSD manifests through symptoms like reliving the trauma through flashbacks or nightmares, avoiding reminders of the event, and being constantly on edge, startled easily, or having difficulty sleeping. These symptoms can severely impact a person's ability to function in daily life, affecting relationships, work, and social engagement.
A PubMed research into the psychological aftermath of terrorism—largely sparked by the events of 9/11—has shown that such incidents significantly increase the prevalence of PTSD, major depressive disorder (MDD), and anxiety disorders. While much of the research focuses on Western contexts, the patterns are consistent globally. Factors like gender, socioeconomic status, pre-existing mental health conditions, level of exposure to the violence, and available social support play crucial roles in determining the mental health outcomes post-trauma. [2,3]
In the context of Pahalgam, those present during the attack may find themselves grappling with a persistent sense of fear, survivor’s guilt, or emotional numbness. Children who witnessed the violence are particularly vulnerable, and without timely intervention, their development and psychological well-being could be severely affected.
Effective intervention strategies include trauma-focused cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which has been shown to significantly alleviate PTSD symptoms. Mental health professionals stress the importance of early identification and community-based support to prevent long-term psychological damage. [2,3]
But the impact of such a tragedy is not limited to those physically present. As psychologist Khushboo Agarwal, EMDR Therapist and member of the EMDR Association India, explains on her LinkedIn post:
After the Pahalgam attack, I noticed something familiar — not just in the survivors, but in the witnesses. The ones who watched from afar. The ones who kept reading, scrolling, feeling. As a psychologist, I often see this pattern after large-scale tragedies. That’s vicarious trauma. It happens when we absorb pain that isn’t directly ours — through the news, social media, or even conversations.
Khushboo Agarwal, MSc Developmental Psychology and MA (Clinical Psychology)
As India mourns another tragedy rooted in senseless violence, it becomes imperative not only to address the terror attack but also to prioritize mental health response as a core component of post-terror care. The road to healing for the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack is long, but with compassionate support, professional care, and public awareness, recovery is possible.
Terror may aim to break the spirit of a people—but by acknowledging and treating the invisible scars, society can reclaim its strength and resilience.
References:
1. Rigutto, C., Sapara, A. O., & Agyapong, V. I. O. (2021). Anxiety, Depression and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder after Terrorist Attacks: A General Review of the Literature. Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 11(10), 140. https://doi.org/10.3390/bs11100140
2. Jacobson, M. H., Norman, C., Nguyen, A., & Brackbill, R. M. (2018). Longitudinal determinants of depression among World Trade Center Health Registry enrollees, 14-15 years after the 9/11 attacks. Journal of affective disorders, 229, 483–490. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2017.12.105
3. Durodié, B., & Wainwright, D. (2019). Terrorism and post-traumatic stress disorder: a historical review. The lancet. Psychiatry, 6(1), 61–71. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30335-3
