Pune — In a tragic turn of events, two close friends from Pune, Santosh Jagdale and Kaustubh Gambote, were killed in the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir. The incident has left their families and local community in shock and mourning.
Jagdale had long dreamed of visiting Kashmir with his wife Pragati and daughter Ashabari. It was a trip they had been planning for years. For his close friend Kaustubh Gambote, it was his first time flying—making the journey all the more special. But what was meant to be a beautiful family vacation turned into an unimaginable tragedy.
A local shopkeeper, Sukharam Chaudhary, who owns a store next to Kaustubh’s in Kondhwa Budruk, remembered him with deep emotion. “We lost a gem… like the Kohinoor diamond. Kaustubh was such a gentle soul, always smiling. He never got angry, and he was friendly with everyone. His wife would often shop at our place, and we’d talk business and life. I’m heartbroken.”
Varna Shinde, an employee at Chaudhary’s shop, echoed the sentiment. “Kaustubh was a man of very good character. He always mingled well with everyone—sab ke saath mil-jul ke rehte the. I even bought farsan from his shop. I saw him just before they left for the trip and chatted with his wife. Such a warm, humble family.”
Jagdale, meanwhile, ran a company that sold farsan and offered interior design services. His daughter Ashabari worked as an HR manager at a software firm. The family lived on the first floor of a modest three-storey building in Karvenagar, Pune. Neighbors described them as peaceful and humble, often tending to their small home garden.
Santosh Navale, a close friend, said the Jagdales had previously visited Arunachal Pradesh and enjoyed the serenity there. “This Kashmir trip was particularly nostalgic for Santosh,” he said. “He had visited the place as a child with his parents. This was more than a holiday—it was a return to cherished memories.”
The Jagdales arrived in Kashmir on Sunday and initially explored the scenic Langanbal area before driving nearly 16 hours to reach Pahalgam. Pragati had informed neighbors they’d arrived safely. But just two days later, the second call came—with devastating news.
As the news of the attack spread, neighbors and friends gathered outside the Jagdale home. Santosh’s brother, Ajay, could barely speak. “The phone connectivity is very poor in Jammu and Kashmir. We couldn’t reach his wife and daughter immediately,” he said with a heavy heart.
Navale recalled his friend Santosh as a visionary. “He had big plans to grow his business. He was a true gentleman. This shouldn’t have been his time… especially not in such a horrific way.”
Why This Matters
- Tourism Impact: Attacks threaten J&K’s economic revival post-Article 370.
- National Security: Exposes gaps in counter-insurgency in civilian zones.
- Community Grief: Pune’s youth rally on FC Road with #TravelSafe protests.
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