At least five gunmen were killed after the gunmen opened fire on the tourists in Kashmir

At least five people were killed after the gunmen opened fire on a group of tourists who visit a famous beauty place in the Indian director Kashmir, the BBC authorities told.

The attack took place in Pahalgam, a picturesque town in the Himalayas, which is often described as “Switzerland in India”.

The prime minister of the region, Omar Abdullah, said that the attack is “much greater than anything we have seen as civilians in recent years.”

Reports say a number of people were also injured in the attack. The Lieutenant Ruler in the area, Manoj Sinha, said that the army and the police were deployed at the scene.

Abdullah condemned the attack, saying: “I was shocked beyond the belief. This attack on our visitors is an abomination.”

No group demanded the responsibility of the attack. There has been a long -term rebellion in the Islamic majority region since 1989, although violence has declined in recent years.

The attack took place in Bazran, Marj Al -Jabal three miles (5 km) from Paalgam.

Video footage on social media appears to show the Indian forces heading towards the location of the attack.

Police said that many tourists had been transferred to the hospital with gunshot wounds. The area has been cordoned off and the search is conducted to find the perpetrators.