Amid Covid threat, mosques, shrines shut

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, March 26

To prevent large congregations amid the Covid-19 threat, several mosques and shrines were shut for public on Thursday.

The step was taken especially to prevent Friday prayers tomorrow that attract people in large numbers. All the main mosques and shrines, including Dargah Hazratbal and Dastageer Sahib, were shut. Other religious places like Gurdwara Sahib Chatti Padshahi, too, were shut.

“Prayers are equally effective from home as they would be from a religious place. Don’t call people out when everyone in world is #StayingHomeNow…Closing of religious places which attract gatherings is an important step to save a whole population. Let’s stay indoors, stay safe to be able to worship again…. Closure of all religious places in #Srinagar is under way,” Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, Shahid Choudhary said in a tweet.

Meanwhile, Grand Mufti Nasirul Islam, too, urged the people to offer prayers at home.

“With all humility, I request people of Kashmir to stay indoors and offer all obligatory prayers at home. Pray for humanity and cooperate with medical staff and general administration. We can’t take chances,” he said.