Black alert: Pahalgam, India

TL;DR (Too Long Didn’t Read)
BLACK ALERT – Pahalgam, India (34.01 °N  75.19 °E): After April’s deadly terrorist attack and the subsequent India‑Pakistan military flare‑up, all non‑essential travel to Pahalgam is strongly discouraged until at least 31 Aug 2025. If you are already in the area, shelter in place, register with your embassy, and arrange the earliest safe departure.

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1  Why has the level been set to BLACK?
• Terrorist violence: The 22 Apr attack that killed 26 tourists near Pahalgam has been claimed by militants linked to Lashkar‑e‑Taiba; investigators warn of follow‑up strikes. 
• Border escalation: India’s subsequent air‑strike and Pakistan’s drone retaliation triggered the heaviest cross‑border exchanges in two decades. Although a U.S.‑brokered cease‑fire is holding for now, the situation remains highly volatile.  
• Cyber spill‑over: Hacktivist campaigns under #OpIndia are targeting local utilities and emergency networks, increasing the risk of power and communications outages. 

2  Current on‑the‑ground conditions

Domain Status Impact on travellers
Airports / roads 24 northern airports—including Srinagar (the usual gateway to Pahalgam)—remain intermittently closed; highways can shut with zero notice. Evacuation routes unreliable; travel insurance may be void if you enter the region.  
Security posture Curfews, armed checkpoints, random searches; foreign media crews denied access. Detention risk, limited consular reach. 
Natural hazards Late‑season snowmelt + incoming monsoon raise avalanche, landslide, and flash‑flood risks in the Lidder Valley. Medical evacuation impossible during weather closures; hospitals are under‑resourced.

3  If you are planning travel
• Postpone all trips until the advisory is downgraded.
• If your itinerary is non‑refundable, talk to your insurer—many policies exclude coverage when official advice says “do not travel.”
• Monitor reliable channels (embassy SMS alerts, the U.S. State Dept, FCDO, MEA). 

4  If you are already in Pahalgam
1. Shelter in a secure building; avoid windows and high‑profile tourist sites.
2. Register your presence with your embassy/consulate; enable location on your phone for rapid welfare checks.
3. Prepare a 72‑hour kit (water, medication, cash).
4. Plan multiple exit options (road to Jammu, helicopter charter once Srinagar re‑opens).
5. Stay off social‑media hotspots that may be monitored by hacktivists.

5  Outlook & review date

The alert will be reviewed 31 Aug 2025 after the first post‑monsoon security assessment. A downgrade will require:
• 60 days with no militant incidents in Anantnag district, and
• full reopening of Srinagar International Airport, and
• restoration of 24/7 mobile & internet services across the Kashmir Valley.

Until those benchmarks are met, the BLACK ALERT remains in force—do not travel.

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Issued: 11 May 2025
Compiled from open‑source intelligence and official travel advisories. Always verify with your own government before making decisions.