Pahalgam Terror Strike: Bengaluru Techie, Shivamogga Realtor Among 3 Killed from Karnataka

A Bengaluru resident and a Shivamogga-based realtor and Sachandra Moli were among three people who were killed in the brutal terror strike in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam on Tuesday. The attack, which targeted a group of tourists, has left Karnataka in mourning, with one more person (Abhijavam Rao) from the state feared dead.

Bharat Bhushan, a 41-year-old techie from Bengaluru's Mathikere, was one of the victims. Bhushan, who helped manage his family's diagnostic centre, had travelled to Kashmir with his wife Sujatha and their three-year-old son and was supposed to return tomorrow afternoon.

Bharat Bhushan's wife, a doctor by profession, married him eight years ago. The couple hails from the Mathikere area in Bengaluru and currently lives in Sundar Nagar near Gokula. The family has not yet broken the news of his death to his parents. His brother Vinay and brother-in-law have travelled to Jammu in the wake of the tragedy.

Bangalore South MP Tejasvi Surya confirmed his death on X and said he had spoken to Bhushan's grieving wife, who remains in Kashmir with their child.

Also killed in the attack was 47-year-old Manjunath Rao, a realtor from Shivamogga. He had taken his family to Kashmir on April 19 to celebrate his son Abhijay's performance in the PU II exams. The incident unfolded while Manjunath had stepped away to buy snacks for his son.

His wife Pallavi, who works with the Malnad Areca Marketing Cooperative Society (MAMCOS), recalled the horrifying moment when terrorists confronted Manjunath and shot him after confirming his religion. "I asked them to shoot both of us, but one of them said, 'Modi ji ko batao'," she recounted in shock. "We thought it was army firing exercises at first. Then people started yelling, 'Bhago, bhago!'"

MAMCOS Vice President Mahesh said Pallavi informed them about Manjunath's death over a call at 3.30 pm. Several other tourists from Sagar were reportedly with the family at the time, and officials are in touch with them.

The full extent of casualties from Karnataka remains unclear, with authorities fearing the toll may rise.