Pahalgam Zipline Video Records Unexpected Terror Attack, Raises Questions

Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, April 29, 2025: A video taken during a zipline ride in the hills of Pahalgam has given a shocking look into the early moments of a terror attack that left 26 people dead. The video, filmed by a tourist from Ahmedabad, unexpectedly captured the start of the violence that unfolded in the Baisaran Valley on April 22.

A Casual Ride Turns into a Nightmare

The tourist, 36-year-old Rushi Bhatt from the Paldi area of Ahmedabad, was on the ride with his family when the incident took place. “I had recorded the video just for fun. I didn’t even know that gunfire had started. “But I captured the attack in my video,” he later said.

Suspicion on the Zipline Operator

In the footage, just before gunshots are heard, the zipline operator, Muzammil, prepares Bhatt for the ride. Moments before releasing the zipline, Muzammil says “Allahu Akbar,” a prayer phrase that raised concern due to its timing. In an interview, Rushi Bhatt said he suspected Muzammil and another man nearby. According to Bhatt, nine people had gone on the ride before him, and the operator had remained silent. But when it was his turn, the sudden chanting followed immediately by gunshots raised suspicions in his mind. “I had a strange feeling about the man,” Bhatt said.

Realization of the Attack

As the ride begins, gunfire breaks the calm, and people on the ground run in panic. Bhatt, still in the air, was unaware of what was happening and saw the chaos around him. “At first, I didn’t understand what was happening. But within 20 seconds, I realized it was a terrorist attack. He recalled, ‘I saw people shooting on the ground — there could have been around five or six terrorists there.
After landing, Bhatt acted quickly. He unfastened his harness, grabbed his wife and son, and ran. They found a group of people taking shelter in a hidden depression in the terrain — a spot that offered some protection from view. Bhatt and his family joined them, staying hidden until it was safe to leave. 

Muzammil’s Family Defends Him

The family of Muzammil, the zipline operator seen in a viral video during the Pahalgam terror attack, has defended him as investigations continue. In the video, people hear Muzammil say “Allahu Akbar” just before gunfire starts, which raises suspicion and prompts a police inquiry. Abdul Aziz, Muzammil’s father, said that the incident frightened his son very much.

“He was crying and said, ‘Don’t ask me anything, something bad has happened here,’” Aziz recalled.
Aziz explained the video, saying his son often says that phrase in moments of fear or shock. “Even if there’s a storm, we say ‘Allahu Akbar.’ What’s wrong with that? My son only worked with the zipline; he didn’t do anything else,” he said.
He said that Muzammil had no connection to the violence and was just doing his job when the attack took place. The National Investigation Agency later questioned him, but early findings suggest he may have said it out of fear or shock, not as a signal.

Investigators are now using the video, which was originally meant to show only a scenic ride, to piece together the timeline of the attack. It serves as a powerful reminder of how fast normal life can turn into a scene of terror.