A Singapore-based Indian-origin woman, Vaishali Bhatt, narrowly survived the horrific terrorist attack that struck Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam region last month. The incident, which took place in the picturesque Baisaran Valley—often called “mini-Switzerland”—claimed the lives of 26 innocent civilians.
Ms. Bhatt and her husband had left the valley just 90 minutes before terrorists opened fire on the unsuspecting tourists. Traumatized by the brutality of the attack, she initially felt a sense of helplessness and frustration as the days passed with no visible government response.
However, her emotions shifted dramatically on May 7, when she learned about “Operation Sindoor”—a counter-terror mission that had been launched in response to the killings. The news deeply affected her.
During a conversation with BJP MP Hemang Joshi, who was visiting Singapore with an Indian delegation raising awareness about terrorism, Ms. Bhatt expressed heartfelt appreciation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She particularly thanked him for the operation’s symbolic name.
“The ‘Sindoor’ name of the operation deeply resonated with her, symbolising protection, faith, and the sacred bond that Operation Sindoor meant for countless families who lost their relatives in the ghastly attack.”
“I was in Pahalgam on (April) 22nd and had a narrow escape. I used to read the newspaper every morning, hoping that the government would act. And the lack of action (in the initial phase) left me frustrated. But on May 7, when I read about Operation Sindoor being carried out, I cried uncontrollably. It meant a lot to me. The ‘Sindoor’ name was apt. No one else could have done it,” she shared in an emotional video message.
The name “Sindoor”—which refers to the vermilion traditionally worn by married Hindu women—held a poignant significance in this context. Since the April attack deliberately targeted men, it left several women widowed, metaphorically erasing the ‘sindoor’ from their lives.
Reports suggest that Prime Minister Modi himself proposed the name for the operation, underscoring its symbolic weight and emotional depth.
