- Wednesday, April 23, 2025
The 26-year-old Indian Navy officer was holidaying with his wife in Pahalgam when terrorists shot him dead
By: shajil kumar
LIEUTENANT VINAY NARWAL of the Indian Navy, who got married on April 16, died during the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on Tuesday (22).
The 26-year-old was holidaying with his wife, Himanshi, when armed terrorists opened fire at Baisaran, a famed meadow, and killed 26 people.
Hailing from Bhusli village in Karnal district, Narwal’s family was presently living in Karnal city.
The Indian Navy also confirmed Narwal’s death in the terror attack.
“Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, #CNS, and all Personnel of the Indian Navy are shocked and deeply saddened by the tragic loss of Lt Vinay Narwal who fell to the dastardly terror attack in Pahalgam. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family during this moment of unimaginable grief.
“The #IndianNavy also stands in solemn solidarity with all others that lost their lives in this heinous act of violence. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims’ families and we pray for the swift recovery of those injured,” the Navy said in a post on X.
Narwal’s neighbour Naresh Bansal said the officer had recently got married.
“After the marriage, everyone was celebrating and in a happy mood. And now suddenly this sad news comes,” he said about the terror attack incident.
Another neighbour Seema recalled that there were grand celebrations at his home and not just the Narwal family, but the entire neighbourhood was celebrating after the wedding.
She told reporters in Karnal that Narwal did his engineering and later cleared the exams to became an officer in the Indian Navy.
“They were planning a honeymoon in Switzerland, but decided to go to Kashmir instead taking into account the leave he had…We can’t imagine what his family is going through,” she said.
“….We saw videos where a girl was crying and pleading with the terrorists to kill her too but they told her they were sparing her so that she can tell (PM Narendra) Modi what happened,” she said without elaborating.
The mortal remains of Lieutenant Narwal were brought to the Delhi airport on Wednesday (23).
Himanshi was seen crying inconsolably while clutching his coffin.
#WATCH | Delhi | Indian Navy Lieutenant Vinay Narwal’s wife bids an emotional farewell to her husband, who was killed in the Pahalgam terror attack
The couple got married on April 16. pic.twitter.com/KJpLEeyxfJ
— ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2025
“I pray that his soul rests in peace … and he has the best life wherever he is. And we will make him proud in every way. It’s because of him that the world is still surviving and we should be proud of him in every way … in every way,” she said while crying.
IAF corporal among the dead
An Indian Air Force Corporal, hailing from Arunachal Pradesh, was one of the victims of the terrorist attack at Pahalgam.
Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu said corporal Tage Hailyang was visiting Pahalgam with his wife.
Reports said corporal Hailyang was posted at the Indian Air Force base in Srinagar.
“Deeply saddened by the tragic loss of corporal Tage Hailyang of the Indian Air Force, a brave son of Arunachal Pradesh who hailed from Tajang village in Lower Subansiri. While visiting Pahalgam with his wife, his life was cruelly taken in a senseless act of terror,” Khandu wrote on ‘X’.
The chief minister said the officer served the nation with courage and honour, and his untimely death is a great loss not only to his family but to the entire country.
“Our thoughts are with his loved ones, especially his wife who survived this horrific incident. May they find strength and solace in this unimaginable time of grief. We will always remember Corporal Hailyang for his service and sacrifice,” he said.
Intelligence officer killed
An Intelligence Bureau employee posted in the city was killed in an attack by terrorists at Pahalgam, official sources said.
Manish Ranjan from Bihar, working as Section Officer at the IB office in Hyderabad died in the terrorist attack, they said.
“He went on LTC (to Jammu and Kashmir) with his wife and two kids…” they said.
Terrorists struck the picturesque Baisaran in Pahalgam which is the favourite hotspot of tourists from across the country, gunning down 26 people and injuring several others. (PTI)
