A dozen tourists from Punjab found themselves caught in the snowfall on Friday while returning from the Sonamarg area, officials said.
Their vehicles stuck in the snow and with no nearby hotels and local houses too small to accommodate the group, Gund residents opened the doors of the Jamia Masjid, allowing the tourists to stay there for the night, officials added.
“It was the best possible solution as the mosque has a hamaam, which stays warm throughout the night,” said Bashir Ahmad, a local resident.
The Jamia Masjid at Gund is located less than 10 kilometres from the site of a terrorist attack in Gagangir, where six people—five non-local labourers and a local doctor—were killed in October this year.
The tourists expressed their gratitude to the locals for their help. “We were stuck in the snow. You came to our rescue. We are extremely thankful to all of you,” one of them said.
Another tourist added, “Everyone should visit Kashmir to experience its hospitality. Everyone here is kind. It is safe to visit. Please come to this paradise on earth.” Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq praised the gesture and said it was heartening to see Kashmiris open their mosques and homes to stranded tourists amidst heavy snowfall.
“This gesture of warmth and humanity reflects our longstanding tradition of hospitality and helping others in times of need,” he said on X.
Elsewhere, heavy snowfall also left many tourists stranded along the Srinagar-Jammu highway and at tourist destinations like Doodhpathri.
However, not all the stranded tourists were complaining. “The car ignition isn’t working due to the cold. We have to push it. But it’s fine; we’re enjoying it,” said a tourist from Haryana as he waited for clearance at Qazigund to head home.
Police and civil administration have begun reaching out to stranded tourists, providing hot drinks and other necessities to keep them warm.
