Surat: A family vacation turned tragic for 43-year-old Shailesh Kalathiya from Surat, who was shot dead by terrorists in Pahalgam, Kashmir, just a day before his 44th birthday. Gujarat Relief Commissioner Alok Pandey confirmed his death. Kalathiya, an employee in the insurance division of a leading nationalised bank in Kandivli, Mumbai, was on holiday with his wife Sheetal, daughter Niti, and son Naksh.

Kalathiya and his family had travelled to Kashmir to celebrate his birthday on April 23. While enjoying a horse ride amidst the scenic beauty, they were caught in terrorists’ gunfire, during which Shailesh was fatally shot.

A resident of Harikunj Society in Katargam, Surat, Kalathiya originally hailed from Drufaniya village in Amreli district. His family has left for Kashmir to bring back his body, which is expected to arrive by evening.

Among the deceased are also a father-son duo from Bhavnagar, identified as Yatish Parmar and Smit Parmar. Two others from Gujarat, Vinodbhai Dabhi and Vijaybhai, sustained injuries in the attack, which was carried out on the Hindu tourists visiting Kashmir . DeshGujarat