Srinagar:  Amid restrictions in wake of Coronavirus threat Friday congregational prayers were offered in mosques all across Kashmir Valley. Official said that Friday congregational peace at historic Jamia Masjid concluded peacefully. Around 600 people offered prayers at the mosque and dispersed peacefully after the culmination of prayers. Sermons were shortened but prayers were offered in different Ahil Hadith mosques in Srinagar city. The Friday prayers were offered in Natipora, Gogjibagh, Nowgam, Chanapora but no Friday prayers were offered in Gawkadal and Ikhrajpora Ahil Hadith mosques.

Friday prayers also concluded peacefully in Ganderbal district. Friday prayers were offered in the district at Jamia Masjid Beehama, Jamia Masjid Meerani Dudharhama, Jamia Masjid Qadeem Kangan. These prayers were led by Molvi Abid Rizvi, Molvi Peer Muhammad Amin Shah and Molvi Ghulam Nabi Ganaie. Around 600 to 700 people each offered prayers in these mosques. The preachers in their sermons made specific reference to the outbreak of Coronavirus and asked Muslim Ummah to seek refuge and pray to Allah that this deadly virus doesn’t spread in Kashmir.

Around 400 to 500 people offered prayers in Jamia Masjid Jadeed in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district where Molvi Khurshid Anwar led these prayers. In Dawar, Gureez around 500 people offered Friday prayers at Jamia Masjid where the prayers were led by Mufti Bilal Ahmed Lone.

Friday prayers were also held in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district. Officials said that no major impact of Coronavirus was seen on gathering in different mosques of Pulwama. People prefer to offer prayers inside the mosques in Pulwama. In Markazi Jamia Masjid Pulwama, where usual gathering is often 1300, around 1000 people offered prayers, but the duration of sermon and prayers were cut short. In rural areas, Friday congregational prayers were offered as usual with normal gatherings. Friday prayers were suspended in all the ‘Ahil-e-Hadith’ Masjids.

Official sources further said that Friday congregational prayers were not offered at Imam Bara Budgam and other Shia mosques. However, prayers were offered at Jamia Masjid Budgam where over 400 people offered prayers. Outside the mosque, District Legal Service Authority Budgam, shortly after the culmination of prayers distributed pamphlets among people suggesting precautionary measures against COVID-19 outbreak.

In Shopian and Kulgam districts, gathering, large gatherings were seen in the mosques. Officials said that unexpectedly large number of people offered prayers but the sermons were shortened at Jamia Masjid Hanfiya, Jamia Masjid DH Pora, Jamia Masjid Yaripora, Jamia Masjid Qoimoh and Jamia Masjid Devsar. The preachers asked people to repent on their misdeeds and seek forgiveness from Allah. They asked people not to panic and have faith in Allah. At some mosques of Kulgam, awareness was given about the preventive measures from COVID-19. These preachers included Molvi Masoom Shah, Molvi Muhammad Amin, Molvi Khurhid Ahmed, Molvi Fayaz Ahmed Rizwi and Molvi Manzoor Ahmed.

No Friday congregational prayers were offered at Jamia Masjid Ahil Hadith in Kulgam.

Friday congregational prayers were offered in Jamia Masjid Hanfiya, Tak Masjid Ahilhadith,Nowa Masjid, Zainpora Jamia Masjid and Keller Jamia Masjid in Shopian district where Molvi Rizwan, Molvi Javaid, Molvi Mudasir, Molvi Sartaj and Molvi Mushtaq delivered sermons.

Prayers were also offered in Anantnag and Baramulla, however, in some mosques belonging to Ahil Hadith, these prayers were suspended. (KNT)

J&K Shariat Court To Hold Meeting Today

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Islamic Court of Sharait is holding an important meeting on 21 March, Saturday, 2020, said spokesperson. He added that the meeting, in which renowned Islamic Scholars are scheduled to participate, will be presided over by Mufti Azam Nasir-ul-Islam.

“The meeting will discuss and decide on the issues pertaining to Coravavirus and preventions and precautions to be taken in light of Islam,” he said.

He added that meeting will also discuss the Fatwas issued by various religious organizations.  The meeting will be held at Shah Faisal Colony, Soura Srinagar at 2pm.

Leh: Authorities in union territory of Ladakh Friday said two more patients under quarantine period have tested positive for novel coronavirus taking total toll to 10 in the region.

According to wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Medical Superintendent (MS) Sonam Norboo Memorial Hospital (SNM) Dr Tsering Samphel Dr Tsering Samphel  said positive reports of two patients have shown positive.

Dr Tsering said that two more patients who were undergoing quarantine period have tested positive for coronavirus taking total toll in the region to 10. He said that the test results of both the patients were received on Friday which showed two more suspected patients have tested positive who were under surveillance for some time now. He confirmed that the total toll in area is 10 now and several are still under active surveillance—(KNO)

SRINAGAR: The District Magistrate Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary has ordered imposition of strict restrictions across Srinagar district tomorrow on March 21. The order states that no kind of public movement or activity will be allowed anywhere in the district adding that only government officials of essential services departments with valid IDs will be allowed to move. Concerned agencies have been directed to ensure strict enforcement  of restrictions across the district. The order issued under Section 144 of CrPC states that the decision to impose restrictions has been taken as a preventive measure and are aimed at preventing spread of the coronavirus infection.

The DM has appealed to the general public to cooperate with the administration and ensure strict adherence to the order. He said violation of the order would constitute criminal offence and attract strict penal action.

Srinagar: The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway is again in the news for wrong reasons. Massive traffic snarls and mismanagement of traffic on the highway is making commuters suffer.

On Thursday, hundreds of vehicle which had left from Jammu to Srinagar early in the morning remained stranded on the highway for hours together making commuters suffer.

One of the commuters, who reached Srinagar after nearly 20-hours while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “It was an arduous journey as we didn’t find anyone regulating the traffic on the highway. First we were stopped at Udhampur for more than three hours. Then we got stuck in Ramban for many hours. After crossing Jawahar Tunnel we were stuck again.”

He said that the journey which one can complete in eight hours takes at least 20-hours. “The highway expansion work has ruined the stretch from Banihal to Ramban, shooting stones and landslides have become a norm. Any vehicle can be hit by a shooting stone as mountains have become lose due to indiscriminate digging,” the commuter added.

It’s in place o mention here that shooting stones falling on vehicles have led to many accidents and loss of precious lives.

Many people are of the opinion that the government has failed to do justice with the highway and the people of the landlocked Kashmir Valley. “During the past few years the Jammu-Srinagar highway has turned into a death trap. In 1947 people used to travel from Jammu to Srinagar and vice-versa but the highway used to be safe for travel. In 2020, this highway has become the most unsafe highway. It seems nothing has been done during the past 70-years to improve the road connectivity between Srinagar and Jammu,” said an analyst.

He said that the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar National Highway which the only all weather road, which connects Kashmir with the rest of the country was “ignored by the successive regimes.” “The political regimes which ruled Jammu and Kashmir for more than seventy years failed to come up with an alternative highway. Had the politicians paid some attention towards developing Mughal Road things in Kashmir could have been different today,” the analyst added.

An observer said that the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway at present is “nobody’s baby.” “No one among the officials wants to take the responsibility. The J&K administration should handover the control of the highway to one particular department whom commuters can reach in the hour of need,” he added.

The observer said despite this highway turning into most undependable surface link no passenger sheds have been constructed along the highway.  “Whenever the highway gets closed due to one or other reason commuters are left stranded with nowhere to go. The J&K administration needs to take concrete steps to address the highway woes. Travelers cannot be left at God’s mercy,” he added.

Srinagar: The husband and daughter-in-law of Coronavirus affected patient in Kashmir have tested negative. Pertinently, an elderly woman who happens to be the mother-in-law of a top police officer was tested positive on Wednesday evening. The patient had returned from Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah.

Authorities have already collected samples of those people who came in contact with the said woman patient. Nodal Officer for Coronavirus at SKIMS, Dr Ghulam Hasan Itoo said that the samples of the husband and the daughter-in-law were sent to laboratory and they turn out negative. He said both are stable in quarantine. Itoo further said that the woman patient is under observation and is also stable.

The report about the son-in-law of the said woman patient, Imtiyaz Ismail Parray who is also the SSP Crime is still awaited.

Parray last night had tweeted that his mother-in-law is doing well in the hospital. “Updating all well-wishers, mother-in-law (Coronavirus patient) doing well at SKIMS, rest of my family also following necessary protocol. Although, no direct contact was made yet, I am also going into isolation. Urge all to leave nothing to chance and follow government directives strictly,” he tweeted.

In another tweet, Imtiya Ismail Parray said that two family members including father-in-law tested negative while mother-in-law is recovering very well by the grace of God. Thank you all for prayers and support but we following the due protocol, thanks administration.

Meanwhile, a lady from Chadoora and a man from Ompora Budgam who had returned from Umrah on March 16 with the infected Coronavirus woman patient have also tested negative for Coronavirus. Reports said that the woman from Gundiwali Chadoora and man from Kulbugh Budgam had landed in Srinagar Airport and were fellow passengers of the same elderly woman. (KNT)

Jammu: Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu has urged the general public not to panic and maintain the social distance as a precautionary measure to stop the spread of COVID-19 Corona Virus.

Hailing the Prime Minister for his motivation and appeal to the public for ensuring self imposed ‘Janata Curfew’ on 22nd March, 2020, the Lt Governor thanked the Prime Minister for the initiative to contain the spread of the virus and assured the residents of Jammu and Kashmir that all necessary measures are in place to prevent the spread of the corona virus. The administration is working 24×7 for ensuring the welfare of the public, he added.

The Lt Governor reviewed the preparedness and the status of arrangements   for dealing with the COVID-19 in a high level meeting attended by Shri Rajeev Rai Bhatnagar, Advisor to Lt. Governor, Shri BVR Subrahmanyam, Chief Secretary; Shri Atal Dulloo, Financial Commissioner Health and Medical Education and senior officers of concerned departments.

While lauding the efforts of frontline health workers, security forces and the staff of essential services, the Lt Governor appealed to the general public to complement the efforts of the government and cooperate in breaking the chain by participating in the ‘Janata Curfew’ on 22nd March.

The Lt Governor reiterated that there would be no shortage of essential commodities or any service. However, he cautioned the people not fall prey to the rumours of any kind and rely only on the government sources for authentic information. He also warned that action would be initiated against the rumour mongers who indulge in any kind of malicious propaganda or spreading unverified news.

He further emphasized on the need to follow the advisories being issued by the administration from time to time to minimise the spread of the virus. He urged the public to take special care of the vulnerable age groups like elderly, children and the people with existing co-morbidities. He said that each and every individual would require to follow the guidelines being issued by the concerned authorities and hoped that with the cooperation of general public, corona virus would be contained and defeated at the earliest.

Srinagar: The Jammu and kashmir government Friday appointed Advisor to Lieutenant Governor, Baseer Ahmad Khan overall incharge of Coronavirus control efforts in Kashmir division. An order under number 416-JK (GAD)of 2020, dated 20-03-2020, reads that “Mr. Baseer Ahmad Khan, Advisor to Lieutenant Governor shall be overall incharge of Corona Virus control efforts in Kashmir division.”

It added that “he shall remain stationed at Srinagar for three days a week to closely monitor all activities related to Corona Virus control efforts.”