Reuters reports that residents across Pakistan and India are rushing to stockpile food and other essential supplies, while families living near the border have fled to safer areas as armed clashes between the nuclear-armed nations escalated.

In Indian Punjab, Amanpreet Dhillon, 26, said many families in his village, just 13 kilometres from the border with Pakistan, have already sent women and children to safer areas.

“I am also contemplating it … I’m afraid my village could be next,” he said.

In Indian-occupied Kashmir’s Uri district, residents said many fled overnight after several houses were struck by shelling, some taking shelter behind rocks or in bunkers.

“We have never seen such intense shelling in our life. The majority of the people fled the town and other villages as soon as shelling started last night with some taking shelter in underground bunkers,” said Bashir Ahmad, 45, in the town of Baramulla in Uri. “It was a nightmare for us.”

In Lahore, residents were shaken on Thursday by drones that Pakistan said were launched by India and were shot down in the city, setting off sirens and leading the US consulate to tell its staff to shelter in place.

Schools were closed on Friday and residents and shopkeepers said citizens were stocking up on food, gas cylinders for cooking and medicine, prompting authorities to issue a notice warning businesses not to artificially increase prices.

“I have stocked groceries for a month: we got meat, flour, tea, oil lentils, etc and also drew extra cash from [the] bank,” said Aroosha Rameez, 34, a Lahore resident.

Muhammad Asif, 35, said his pharmacy had seen an influx of customers.

“People in Lahore have started stocking medicines as well, which may lead to shortages of paracetamol, anti-allergies, antibiotics, blood pressure and diabetes medicines,” he said.

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