Jaipur/Dubai: Neeraj Udhwani, a 33-year-old chartered accountant based in Dubai, was tragically killed in Tuesday’s terror attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, most of them tourists.
Neeraj’s grieving family revealed he had unexpectedly added the Kashmir trip after attending a friend’s wedding in Shimla. “He came for a wedding in Chandigarh. The Kashmir visit was unplanned. We wish he’d never gone,” said his uncle Prakash Udhwani, voice trembling with grief.
The Dubai expat’s life story reflects the transnational reality of many Indian families. Having moved to Dubai as a toddler with his parents, Neeraj stayed on after his father’s death a decade ago, building his career and marrying in 2023. His wife Arushi remains in shock after witnessing the attack unfold.
“She heard gunshots and screams,” Prakash recounted. “When she went searching, police told her the devastating news at night.” Neeraj had briefly stepped out alone from their hotel when terrorists struck.
As authorities prepare to airlift his body to Jaipur via Delhi on Wednesday evening, the family demands justice. “The government must punish these terrorists. That’s the only justice for Neeraj,” his uncle asserted, echoing the anguish of countless families affected by Kashmir’s violence.
The attack has sent shockwaves through both Neeraj’s professional circles in Dubai and his hometown community in Jaipur, where his mother and younger brother returned years ago. It also highlights the continuing security challenges in Kashmir’s tourist areas, despite government efforts to promote tourism in the valley.
