A Year After the Pahalgam Attack: Pune Family Rebuilds Life Amid Loss

The Impact of Tragedy

For the Ganbote family from Pune, Kashmir, a place often described as ‘Heaven on Earth,’ has become a haunting memory following a tragic event. Kunal Ganbote, aged 33, reflects on the irreversible changes that followed the Pahalgam terror attack, which occurred on April 22, 2025. His father, Kaustubh Ganbote, was one of the 26 victims who lost their lives during this horrifying incident.

The family had planned this trip as a joyful experience, traveling to Jammu & Kashmir for the first time with close family friends, the Jadgale family. “There was a lot of excitement. It was their first visit,” Kunal recalls, struggling with the emotional weight of recalling the day. The suddenness of the attack has left him grappling with a loss that seems insurmountable.

Life Altered Forever

In the aftermath of the attack, the Ganbote family received an outpouring of support from relatives, friends, government officials, and well-wishers. Kunal acknowledges the importance of this assistance during such a devastating time, yet the grief remains a persistent shadow in their daily lives.

Kunal, who was previously employed as a research consultant in Pune’s food and beverages sector, experienced a drastic shift in his life. “That day drastically changed my life,” he states, as he reminisces about his father’s unwavering dedication to their family’s ‘farsan namkeen’ business. His father had dedicated 35 years to building the venture, which had grown from a small home-based operation to a network of 17 franchise outlets across Pune. Kunal shares that his father dreamed of transitioning the business into a national brand.

Taking Charge of the Future

After his father’s passing, Kunal made the decision to leave his job and take over the family business, viewing it as a responsibility rather than a choice. “Now, I am working to take forward his dream,” he emphasizes, acknowledging the weight of continuing the legacy left behind.

However, the questions surrounding the attack linger in his mind. Kunal explains that during the shooting, he and his father were not initially in the line of fire. “They were far away when the firing started. The attackers moved freely over a long distance and eventually reached them,” he asserts, highlighting concerns over security lapses that allowed such an incident to occur. He notes the absence of CCTV cameras and checkpoints as critical shortcomings.

Challenges Ahead

Kunal also expresses concern over what he perceives as deliberate targeting during the attack, which he believes indicates a clear intention to instigate unrest. Although security operations have been established in response to the tragedy, he feels that more comprehensive actions are necessary to combat terror networks that persist. “Incidents like the blast near Delhi’s Red Fort show that terror networks are still deeply rooted,” he states.

For Kunal, there is a dual demand for accountability and proactive measures. “The action by security agencies should be so strict that even those planning such attacks think twice,” he insists, echoing the community’s need for enhanced security protocols.

Support and Moving Forward

The family has received promised financial assistance from the government. However, when presented with the option of a job as compensation, they opted not to take it. “As I had to take care of the business, we requested that the job be given to someone more in need,” Kunal explains.

Ultimately, the Ganbote family is left to navigate a reality marked by loss that cannot be undone. “We have already lost our dear one,” Kunal laments, calling for stronger surveillance and preventive measures to ensure that no one else has to endure a similar fate in the future.