House handed over to family of Adil Shah who died saving tourists in Pahalgam

Hapatnar (Aishmuqam), Apr 21: A newly constructed house was handed over on Tuesday to the family of Syed Adil Shah, a pony operator killed while saving tourists during last year’s Pahalgam terror attack.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde inaugurated it via video conferencing.

Shah was killed in the Baisaran meadows on April 22, 2025, when he tried to rescue tourists during the attack that left 25 people dead and several others injured.

Following the incident, Shinde announced financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh and pledged to build a house for Shah’s family, who had been living in modest conditions.

On the first anniversary of the attack, a team of Maharashtra Ministers and Shiv Sena leaders attended the inauguration ceremony in Hapatnar, near Aishmuqam, as the family prepared to move into the new house.

Cabinet ministers Sanjay Shirsat and Yogesh Kadam led the ceremony, while Shinde joined virtually.

Praising Shah’s bravery, Shinde described him as a national hero.

“Words fall short of describing Adil’s valour. He sacrificed his life for humanity, rising above caste and religion. I salute his parents and assure them of our continued support,” Shinde said addressing those assembled to pay tributes.

He described the house as a “token of love” for the family.

“The gift may be small, but the message is big,” he said.

Shah’s family expressed gratitude for the support extended to them.

“We are thankful to Eknath Shinde for his support. He ensured that we have a new house,” Shah’s father, Haider Shah, said.

Other Shiv Sena leaders present on the occasion included Abhijeet Adsul, Baji Rao Chauhan, Abhinandan Kopkar, Ashwani Kumar Gupta, and Muhammad Shafi Magray, along with Sarhad NGO president Sanjay Nahar.