At least five tourists are feared dead after gunmen opened fire at a beauty spot in Indian-controlled Kashmir.
Police described the shooting, near the resort town of Pahalgam on Tuesday, as a “terror attack” and blamed it on militants fighting Indian rule.
Omar Abdullah, the region’s main elected official, said: “This attack is much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years.
“The death toll is still being ascertained so I don’t want to get into those details.”
However, a police source told Reuters that at least five people were feared killed, with eight injured.
Earlier, Indian TV channels said one person had died and seven were injured following the attack.
Initial reports said the gunmen fired bullets at mostly Indian tourists visiting Baisaran meadow, around three miles (5km) from Pahalgam.
Officers said multiple tourists suffered gunshot wounds and officials had taken the wounded to hospitals.
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A manhunt for the attackers has been launched.
Hundreds of tourists flock to the meadow, a top sightseeing destination surrounded by snow-capped mountains, every day.
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Nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan each administer part of Kashmir, but both claim the territory in its entirety.
Militants in the Indian-controlled portion have been fighting New Delhi’s rule since 1989.
Tens of thousands of civilians, rebels and government forces have been killed in the conflict.
