‘Met couple, who became face of carnage, a day ago’
Times of India | 24 April 2025
Krishnagore: For newlyweds Sudipta Das, a photographer, and his dentist wife Debasruti, the honeymoon trip to Pahalgam is not one they will forget in a lifetime. The couple in their 30s met Navy Lieutenant Vinay Narwal and his wife Himanshi, a schoolteacher, another couple on honeymoon in Sonmarg just a day ago. Like them, they were also scheduled to go to Baisaran Valley on Tuesday. However, Sudipta and Debasruti, weary at the thought of another pony ride, cut short their plans at the last minute, deciding instead to offer pujas in a local Kali temple. They stepped out of the temple to hear about the tragedy from their driver.
The couple is expected to return to Kolkata from Srinagar on Thursday. Speaking to TOI over the phone, Sudipta identified Vinay and Himanshi from their numbing photograph splashed worldwide capturing the tragedy. This couple was married only a week ago. They had planned to go to Switzerland, but due to visa delays, they opted for the ‘mini-Switzerland' in Pahalgam.
"We met them in Sonmarg. We too, like them, were in Pahalgam and planned to go to Baisaran. But we had travelled for some time since our arrival in Kashmir and had multiple pony rides. We were tired at the thought of another one. Also, my wife and I wanted to go to the Kali temple and offer pujas on Tuesday. After stepping out of the temple, our driver first informed us and asked us to leave the spot. It was around 3 pm. We rushed back to our hotel in Pahalgam, collected our belongings, and headed to Srinagar in the same car," Sudipta said.
Sudipta's mother, Polly, who rushed to their Kestopur flat and is now awaiting their return, said, "My son and his wife are shattered at the turn of events. They met that couple in the photograph. They also got very friendly. They would have also gone to the place where the shooting happened with them. But they changed their plans at the last moment. The tragedy has numbed them. He refuses to speak much about it."
The family is based in Krishnagore, where both Sudipta and Debasruti work. In Srinagar, the couple is so stressed that they are staying with a Kashmiri local. "We happen to know him. The local has advised them to stay put at home and not to step out much. I also endorse it. Srinagar – from what I have heard – is also very tense," Polly said. Sudipta added: "When we reached Srinagar, we saw local protests against the militant attacks. The locals – including our driver – have been very helpful."
It was also on reaching Srinagar that the couple properly learnt that Himanshi lost her husband, Vinay.