IPL Matches Pay Tribute to Pahalgam Attack Victims with Solemn Gestures
The Indian Premier League (IPL) will observe solemn tributes during today’s fixtures following Tuesday’s terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 26 tourists and injured over 20. Players, umpires, and support staff will wear black armbands, while a one-minute silence will precede the match start. Cheerleader performances and post-match fireworks have been cancelled as a mark of respect.
The attack, claimed by The Resistance Front (a Lashkar-e-Taiba offshoot), targeted civilians at Baisaran meadow, a remote tourist spot in Anantnag district. PM Narendra Modi cut short his Saudi Arabia visit to chair security meetings, while Home Minister Amit Shah visited the attack site. Survivors described militants checking circumcisions to spare Muslims and executing non-Muslims at close range.
- Silence and Armbands: The league joins national mourning efforts, mirroring gestures seen after major tragedies.
- Cancelled Celebrations: Fireworks and cheer routines paused to honor victims, including an Indian Navy officer on his honeymoon and tourists from eight states.
- Helpline Support: Authorities released emergency numbers (e.g., Srinagar Control Room: 0194-2457543) for affected families.
US President Donald Trump, Russia’s Vladimir Putin, and Italy’s GiorgiaMeloni condemned the attack, while Airlines added flights to evacuate tourists from Srinagar. The Jammu and Kashmir National Conference called a bandh (shutdown) on Wednesday to protest the violence.
A joint Army-police operation continues in Pahalgam, with helicopters deployed to track attackers. The incident, the deadliest since 2019’s Pulwama bombing, has reignited debates on Kashmir’s security amid rising tourist footfall post-2019 autonomy changes