‘Hardest yr of our lives’: 12 months after Pahalgam, Pune sufferer’s household navigates trauma, monetary pressure | India Information
4 min learnPuneUp to date: Apr 20, 2026 06:12 AM IST
It has been practically a yr since 50-year-old Santosh Jagdale was killed in entrance of his spouse and daughter, who’re but to get well from the traumatic incident.
Santosh was among the many 26 individuals killed in Pahalgamin Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district, on April 22 final yr, when terrorists opened hearth at vacationers. The Jagdale household was on vacation within the south Kashmir vacationer vacation spot when the assault took Santosh’s life.
Within the yr for the reason that incident, Santosh’s spouse, Pragati, and daughter, Asawari, have grappled not solely with emotional ache but additionally the monetary pressure of getting misplaced the first breadwinner.
“We had many sleepless nights. The incident we witnessed continues to be recent in our minds,” says Asawari Jagdale (27), including, “It was essentially the most troublesome yr of our lives.”
Whereas coping with the trauma of witnessing the phobia assault and the lack of Santosh, the household additionally needed to “run from pillar to put up to get the guarantees made by the state authorities fulfilled”, Asawari says.
Santosh used to run a enterprise promoting farsaan, or savoury snacks, and decorations, and Asawari used to work within the HR division of an organization. Nonetheless, after Santosh’s dying, Asawari needed to give up her job to assist her mom cope.
Within the instant aftermath of the terrorist assault, the household was assured of assist by the highest management of the Maharashtra authorities, together with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde. Asawari was promised authorities employment on compassionate grounds.
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Nonetheless, the household acquired no different communication relating to a authorities job for one more 9 months. After a request from Asawari’s mom, Pragati, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Medha Kulkarni took her case to Union Residence Minister Amit Shah.
Lastly, 11 months on from the terrorist assault that upended her life, Asawari was appointed as an administrative officer within the Pune Municipal Company in March. She is presently finishing her coaching and can take cost as a Class II officer by the tip of April.
“We needed to combat for the job on our personal as there was nobody to assist us initially. It was solely after we expressed our frustration publicly and acquired assist from the media that issues moved ahead. I used to be lastly in a position to safe a job within the Pune Municipal Company. It will assist our household handle our livelihood,” Asawari says.
As per the Hindu calendar, Santosh Jagdale’s first dying anniversary fell on March 26, and all rituals had been carried out that day. On April 22, the household plans to donate meals to the needy. “Likely, we’ll donate to an orphanage in remembrance of my father. I can’t take depart on that day as I’m nonetheless in my coaching interval, so I’ll request just a few hours off to hold out the deliberate actions,” she says.
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The federal government job comes as a aid, however Asawari says nothing can fill the void left by her father’s killing.
“Whereas individuals might imagine issues are settled now that I’ve a job within the PMC, one should perceive that nothing can exchange a father. There’s a everlasting void in our lives. We’re nonetheless mentally exhausted,” she says.
The job has introduced its personal challenges, nonetheless. Asawari says, “My mom is alone at dwelling after I go to the workplace. We keep in fixed contact over the telephone, however I need to assist her come out of the shock by holding her busy with some actions.”
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