Artillery outside, humanity inside: Baramulla’s businessmen offer free meals, shelter for Uri’s displaced families

Baramulla, May 9: In a powerful demonstration of community solidarity, restaurant and hotel owners in Baramulla town have stepped up to support hundreds of families displaced from Uri sector following intense cross-border shelling by Pakistani forces along the Line of Control (LoC).

As the sound of artillery fire forced residents from over a dozen border villages to abandon their homes, local businesses have transformed into havens of support, offering free meals and accommodation to those fleeing the violence.

Junaid Mohjoo, owner of the popular ‘Rose Avenue’ restaurant, made a heartfelt announcement on social media Friday that quickly went viral. “Any Uri resident who wants free food, my restaurant ‘Rose Avenue’ is open for you. It is all yours. You give us business the whole year. It is our responsibility this time to pay back,” Mohjoo wrote in his widely shared post.

The humanitarian gesture was immediately matched by Hotel Justin, whose owner released an emotional video message extending similar support. “In this time of grief, if any displaced family of Uri wants free-of-cost accommodation, they are welcome at our hotel. They won’t be charged for their stay,” he declared, emphasising that compassion must take precedence over profit during crisis.

These initiatives have sparked a wave of positive responses across social media platforms, with many locals pledging similar support. Mushtaq Ahmad, a Baramulla resident, urged others to join the effort: “In these difficult times, we stand with the affected people of Uri. Let us open our doors for them so that they don’t feel isolated in the time of crisis.”

The cross-border hostilities have already claimed the life of one woman and left 18 others injured. The shelling, which intensified shortly after India launched Operation Sindoor, has also caused significant damage to homes and infrastructure along the border.

As the violence continues unabated, scores of men, women, and children from Uri sector have sought refuge with relatives or at designated shelter houses established by authorities in Baramulla town. Local officials report that emergency services have been placed on high alert, with medical facilities prepared to handle additional casualties.

“We’re seeing the true spirit of Kashmir during this difficult time,” said Farooq Shah, a district administration official. “When government resources are stretched thin, it’s heartening to see ordinary citizens stepping forward to help their neighbours in need.”

For those displaced, these gestures provide more than just material support. “We left everything behind—our homes, livestock, even family photographs,” said Gulshan Begum, who fled from Garkote village with her three children. “To be welcomed so warmly makes us feel that we are not alone in this struggle.”

As tensions along the LoC show no signs of abating, these acts of kindness serve as powerful reminders of humanity’s capacity for compassion even in the darkest of times.