Adil Shah died saving tourists in Pahalgam, now his family gets a new home

Hapatnar (Aishmuqam), Apr 18: The family of Syed Adil Shah, the pony operator who was killed while trying to rescue tourists during last year’s attack in Pahalgam, is set to move into a newly constructed house in the remote Haptanar village of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde funded the house, and the family said they will shift after his expected visit around the anniversary of the April 22 attack.

“We are thankful to Eknath Shinde for his support. He ensured that we get a new house,” said Adil’s elder brother, Naushad Shah. “Shinde is expected to visit us, and after that, we will move into the new house.”

Adil, 28, was among those killed in the attack at Baisran meadows that left at least 22 tourists dead and several others injured.

Family members said he ran towards the site to help injured tourists and was shot.

“There were hundreds of people there. He, too, could have saved himself by fleeing, but he chose to help the injured,” said his father, Haider Shah.

Recalling the day, Haider said his other son, Naushad Hussain, who works as a driver in Pahalgam, called around 4 p.m. to ask if Adil had gone to work.

When Adil did not return home and did not answer his phone, the family grew anxious.

“Later, his nephew told us he had been injured. By around 9:45 p.m., we were told he was no more,” he said.

Adil earned around Rs 300 a day working with horses in Pahalgam.

He lived with his parents and two brothers, both married.

Adil had married Gulnaz Akhtar, from the same village, about a year and a half before the incident. The couple had a baby girl who later died of illness.

“My son earned a modest Rs 300-500 per day and we were happy with it. He sacrificed his life for humanity. Tourists trusted us when they visited Pahalgam and he tried to save them,” Haider said.

Following the attack, assistance came from several quarters, including the government and other organisations.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha provided Adil’s widow, Gulnaz Akhtar, with a job in the fisheries department, while Waqf Board head Darakshan Andrabi engaged his brother, Nazakat, as a daily wager at the Aishmuqam shrine.

Several other organisations and the government chipped in with financial assistance.

Naushad, who earlier drove others’ vehicles, has since purchased a cab and now works in Pahalgam to support the family.

Shinde had earlier sent the family financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh and spoke to them via video call, praising Adil’s bravery.

“We don’t have a dearth of money, but he is no more with us. That haunts us. At the same time, I am proud of his bravery,” Haider said.

The family said people from across the country continue to visit them, remembering Adil’s valour.