“I celebrated my birthday there”: Vijay Deverakonda remembers Pahalgam shoot, condemns attack
Hyderabad: In the wake of the terrorist attack on civilians in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, tributes poured in from film stars and political leaders, while the Governments of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh responded with support measures for the victims and their families.
Actor Vijay Deverakonda expressed grief on social media, recalling his time in Pahalgam during a film shoot two years ago. “I celebrated my birthday there, surrounded by laughter and local Kashmiri friends who cared for us. What happened yesterday is heartbreaking and infuriating. Calling yourself a force and shooting tourists is cowardly and shameful,” he posted on X, formerly Twitter. “We stand with the victims and their families. We stand with Kashmir. I hope these cowards are brought to justice. India will never bow to terror.”
I celebrated my birthday 2 years ago in Pahalgam, amidst shooting a film, amidst laughter, amidst my local Kashmiri friends who took the greatest care of us..
What happened yesterday is heartbreaking and infuriating – calling yourself a Force and shooting tourists is the most…
— Vijay Deverakonda (@TheDeverakonda) April 23, 2025
Similarly, actor Chiranjeevi Konidela also responded to the tragedy, calling it a “ghastly attack” that claimed the lives of 26 innocent people, including tourists. He extended his condolences to the victims’ families and expressed his heartbreak over the loss of lives.
Actor Allu Arjun, who also shared his grief on social media, described Pahalgam as “a beautiful place with kind-hearted people,” offering his condolences and praying for the victims’ families.
Actor NTR also voiced his condolences, sending thoughts and prayers to the families of those affected by the attack and calling for peace and justice in the region.
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy condemned the attack, calling it a cowardly act and urged the Centre to take strict action. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed grief over the deaths of Telugu citizens and reaffirmed support for the Union Government’s counter-terrorism efforts.
The Telangana government has set up a helpline at Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi to assist citizens and provide timely updates. As of now, no Telangana residents have been reported missing or deceased. Citizens can contact Vandhana at 9871999044 or Hyder Ali Naqvi at 9971387500 for assistance. Senior officials remain in contact with the Jammu and Kashmir administration and central authorities.
Among the deceased was J. Chandramouli, a retired bank employee from Pandurangapuram, Visakhapatnam. He was shot while visiting Baisaran, a meadow near Pahalgam. Witnesses say he tried to escape but was chased and killed. His family is en route to Pahalgam, and his remains are being transported to Visakhapatnam. Chief Minister Naidu will receive the body at the airport and meet the family.
Another victim, Somisetty Madhusudhan Rao, a software engineer from Kavali in Nellore district, was killed in the attack. He had travelled to Jammu and Kashmir with his wife and two children, who survived the incident. His body is being transported to Kavali for the final rites.
An excise officer posted in Hyderabad, Manish Ranjan, originally from Bihar, was also among the victims. He was shot in front of his wife and children during a family trip.
The attack, which left 26 dead and 17 injured, including Hyderabad resident Jaya Mishra who sustained minor injuries, is suspected to have been carried out by a Pakistan-based terror group.
The country remains in shock as authorities investigate the incident and victims’ families cope with the loss.
