Amarnath yatra attack: Families of 2 victims from Maharashtra distraught

Around 60 people from Valsad, Vapi, Navsari, Udwada and Dahanu went on the 21-day pilgrimage from July 2 to July 23

The families of two women from Maharashtra – Nirmala Thakur, 58, and Usha Sonkar, 55 – who were killed in the Amarnath yatra terror attack on Monday night are in a state of shock.

Nirmala Thakur, one of the two victims from Maharashtra (Mohammed Hussain Khan)

“My mother called me on Sunday. She said their bus was pelted with stones near Balthal just before the start of the yatra. I asked her to return, but she wanted to continue with the pilgrimage,” said Pradip, Thakur’s son, who works as a driver. “As my mother was sitting near the window seat, she was targeted first. Another acquaintance and Dahanu resident Bhagyamani Thakur, who went with my mother and was sitting beside her, escaped with minor injuries.”

Around 60 people from Valsad, Vapi, Navsari, Udwada and Dahanu went on the 21-day pilgrimage from July 2 to July 23, said Pradip. “My mother’s body will be brought to Dahanu in a chopper around 3pm,” he said.

Usha Sonkar’s family said she was excited about the trip. “My sister, Usha, was a religious person. She was eager to go on this trip,” said Guddu Ramlakhan.

Her husband, Mohanlal, fruit and vegetable trader in the wholesale market, is too shocked to react. “We got a call from the BSF on Tuesday morning,” said Guddu.

Guddu said Union textile minister Smriti Irani and local councillor Bharat Rajput visited them.