Srinagar, Dec 28: Amid heavy snowfall on Friday evening, a group of tourists stranded in the Gund area of Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district found refuge in a local mosque.

The tourists in Gund faced an uncertain situation as heavy snow and plummeting temperatures disrupted their journey. Local residents guided the stranded group to a mosque, providing them with shelter and warmth from a traditional hammam.

Some tourists were also welcomed into local homes, where they were given comfort and care.

A video of the tourists, which went viral on social media, showed them expressing gratitude to the residents.

“When we were stranded in Gund during the heavy snowfall, the locals guided us to the mosque and provided us with shelter,” said a tourist from Punjab. “It is because of the locals that we are safe.”

The gesture of goodwill from the residents garnered widespread appreciation, including from politicians.

Stranded tourists in Ganderbal found an unexpected yet welcoming refuge at a mosque last night. Kashmiris aren’t only human but humane too. Wish media would stop perpetuating the stereotype that grabs eyeballs & instead throw light on how hospitable Kashmiris are,” Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti said on X.

PDP General Secretary Khurshid Alam echoed the sentiment, saying, “It is heartening to witness that Kashmir’s long-standing tradition of hospitality is alive and thriving. Despite the challenges posed by snowfall, including water and electricity shortages, the people of Kashmir have shown remarkable generosity, making the region proud once again.”

Hurriyat Chairman and Kashmir chief cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said it was heartening to see Kashmiris opening their Masjids and homes to stranded tourists amidst heavy snowfall.

“This gesture of warmth and humanity reflects our longstanding tradition of hospitality and help in times of need,” he said.

Meanwhile, in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, police carried out a late-night rescue operation for four tourists stranded on Mehmood Abad Road in Dooru due to heavy snow.

According to police, a distress call was received at around 2 AM, reporting that a vehicle carrying tourists traveling had stuck in the snow, leaving the passengers in extreme weather conditions.

A police team from Dooru braved the challenging conditions to reach the site and successfully rescued all four tourists, evacuating them to safety.

UNI