Pilgrimage open for people under 65-years of age

Srinagar: The Haj committee of India today issued fresh guidelines for Haj, 2022.

As per Circular instructions issued by Haj Committee of India, vide No HC-24/52/2022/1478 dated: 09/04/2022, the Ministry of Haj and Umrah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has now announced that this year’s Haj will be conducted according to the regulations.

It said that this year’s Haj is open for those who are under 65 years old and have received the main Covid – 19 vaccinations approved by the Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Besides, pilgrims coming from outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are required to submit a negative Covid – 19 PCR test result, performed within 72 hours of the time of departure to the Kingdom.

Following the instructions HCI clarified that   all those Haj aspirants who have submitted Haj application forms and are above the age of 65 years (as on 30th April, 2022) shall stand ineligible for Haj – 2022.

It will also cancel the Haj Seat of those lady pilgrims, whose Mehram/ Male Companion is above 65 years of age.  This would also impact the companion of 70+ category pilgrims.

Now,  fresh Haj applications can be made online by the intending pilgrims w.e.f 9th April, 2022 to 22nd April, 2022 on the  conditions that applicant should possess a valid machine readable international passport issued on or before 9th April, 2022 and valid at least upto 31st December, 2022.

Also,    the applicant should be below the prescribed age limit of 65 years (as on 30th April, 2022 or earlier) and have received the main Covid – 19 Vaccinations approved by the ministry of Health, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Further, as new Mehram Companion of those lady pilgrims who have already applied for Haj but Haj Seat(s) of their present Mehram Companions stand cancelled due to overage, as prescribed by Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Srinagar, April 10: Weatherman on Sunday predicted “brief spell” of light to moderate rainfall during April 13-14 and 19 even as it said that there was no major rain expected in Jammu and Kashmir till end of this month.

“As of today, a brief spell of light to moderate rain likely during April 13-14th and 19th at scattered places of J&K. Mainly hot and dry (was expected) on rest of the days,” A meteorological department official said, adding, “There’s no forecast of any major rain till ending April.”

Meanwhile, the official said that Srinagar recorded a low of 10.0°C against 10.0°C on the previous night. He said the temperature was 3.1°C above normal during this time of the year for the summer capital.

Qazigund recorded a low of 7.2°C against 7.4°C on the previous night. The temperature was above normal by 1.5°C for the gateway town of Kashmir, he said.

Kokernag, also in south Kashmir, recorded a low of 8.8°C against 9.4°C the previous night. It was 3.4°C more than normal during this time of the season for the place, the official said.

Pahalgam, the famous resort in south Kashmir, recorded a low of 2.6°C against 6.0°C on the last night. The temperature was 0.4°C above normal for the place, he said.

Gulmarg recorded a low of 3.6°C against 5.0°C on the previous night, the official said. While 0.5°C is normal for the world famous skiing resort during this time of the season, the official said that the temperature was 3.1°C above normal for the place in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, he said.

Kupwara town in north Kashmir recorded a low of 6.1°C against 8.9°C on the previous night. The temperature was 0.6°C above normal, the official said.

Jammu recorded a low of 21.7°C against 23.1°C on the previous night, the official said. The temperature was 3.9°C above normal for J&K’s winter capital, he said.

Banihal recorded a low of 14.8°C, Batote 14.8°C and Bhaderwah 10.2°C, the official said.

Ladakh’s Leh recorded a minimum of 2.5°C against 4.1°C on the previous night, he said.

Srinagar: Kashmiri Pandits on Sunday took out Shoba Yatra in Srinagar on the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami as the festival was celebrated with religious fervor and gaiety.

The Yatra with a group of children dressed in traditional attire was taken out from Kathleshwar temple in Tankipora area in Srinagar and passed through the roads of Habbakadal, Ganpathyar, Barbar Shah, Regal Chowk, Lal Chowk, Hari Singh High Street and Jahangir Chowk amid tight security arrangements.

Chanting “Hari Rama Hari Rama“ slogans a good number of Kashmiri pandits accompanied the yatra that passed off peacefully.

Security forces were deployed at various points in strength as a precautionary measure, an official said.

President of the Hindu Welfare Society of Kashmir Chunni Lal said that with the taking out of the Shoba Yatra, the nine day Navratri festival concludes.

He said the special prayers for the peace and prosperity of the country and Jammu and Kashmir were conducted during all these days.

Srinagar: Government on Sunday transferred two JKAS officers in the interest of administration.

According to a government order Rakesh Kumar Srangal, JKAS, Director, Panchayati Raj, J&K, has been transferred and posted as Managing Director, J&K Road Transport Corporation, against an available vacancy, with immediate effect.

As per a separate order, Mohammad Shafiq Chak, JKAS, Member, J&K Services Selection Board, has been transferred and posted as Director, Social Welfare, Kashmir, relieving Shabnam Kamili, JKAS, Mission Director, ICPS, J&K of the additional charge of the post, with immediate effect.

Srinagar: Kashmir Valley logged 30 fresh Covid-19 cases while there was no case reported from Jammu division for the fifth consecutive day on Sunday, officials said. There was no death due to the virus in the last 24 hours either in Kashmir or Jammu, they said.

They said that while there was no fresh case from Jammu, 30 cases in Kashmir Valley were restricted to Srinagar (29) and Baramulla (1), taking the overall tally to 453889—166273 in Jammu and 287616 in Kashmir, they said.

There was no death reported in the last 24 hours, they said. So far 4750 persons have succumbed to the virus—2327 in Jammu and 2423 in Kashmir.

Besides, they said, 18 Covid-19 patients recovered during the time and no one from Jammu and 18 from the Valley. So far 449047 people have recovered, leaving the active case tally at 92— 2 in Jammu and 90 in Kashmir.

The officials said there was no new confirmed case of mucormycosis (black fungus) reported today. So far 51 black fungus cases have been confirmed in J&K, the officials said. They also informed that 6066 doses of covid-19 vaccine were administered during the time in J&K.

Srinagar: A man was killed when vehicle he was driving in veered off the road in Anantnag district of south Kashmir on Sunday.

Official sources said the accident took place near JK Bank Dialgam as the Alto vehicle (JK02AT-8004) driven by one Khalid Ahmed Najar son of Mukhtar Ahmed Najar of chicken Mohalla Kadipora skidded from the road and fell into roadside ground, resulting in his on the spot death. Body of the deceased is presently at district hospital Annatnag and is being handed over to the family, they said.