'What I saw… no one should': Ponywallah recalls Pahalgam attack

A local pony handler who was among the first to reach the site of the April 22 terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam in 2025 has recounted the scenes of devastation that continue to haunt him, according to a report by The Times of India.

Abdul Waheed Wani, 39, president of one of Pahalgam’s largest ponywallah associations, said he rushed to Baisaran valley after receiving a call from police about an incident. Taking a shorter route, he reached the spot before security forces.

“When I reached there, I saw a woman crying, a child crying. Bodies were lying scattered,” Wani told TOI, describing the aftermath of the attack that left 26 tourists, including a local pony handler, dead and 17 others injured.


Wani said he and his brother-in-law were among the first responders at the site, where abandoned shops stood amid the chaos. He recalled trying to comfort survivors and offering water to a distressed woman while waiting for authorities to arrive.

He later alerted a WhatsApp group of around 700 ponywallahs, calling for help. However, only a handful could reach the location as security forces restricted access to the area.

“We tried to help the wounded. Baisaran is a large area and bodies were lying in different places. It took time to bring them together,” he said, adding that many victims had suffered gunshot wounds to the head.

Wani also recounted rescuing a man who was initially thought to be dead but was found alive with bullet injuries. “When we touched him, he spoke… I still remember his voice,” he said.

Some survivors refused to leave the site, he added, recalling a woman who stayed back searching for her husband.

The incident has left a lasting impact on Wani, who said he struggles with recurring memories of that day. “Whenever they return… I try to keep myself occupied,” he told TOI.