Eerie clam across Valley as Govt impose curbs in several districts, Shops closed, religious clerics cut short mandatory congregational prayers, public transport remain off roads
Srinagar : Eerie calm prevailed in Srinagar and other districts of Kashmir on Friday as the government imposed restrictions under section 144 CrPc in many districts across Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory in wake of the deadly coronavirus.
According to wire service—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the restrictions have been put in place as precautionary measure to prevent the virus from spreading. The restrictions continued for the second straight day in Kashmir parts while the curbs were further enforced today.
Pertinently, one positive case has so far been reported in Kashmir. A lady who had arrived Kashmir on March 16 from Saudi Arabia was tested positive on late Wednesday evening.
To prevent the deadly virus from spreading, the district administration Srinagar and others ordered imposition of restrictions under section 144n CrPc in the respective districts. Witnesses told KNO that police and paramilitary troopers were deployed in large number in almost every district especially in Srinagar where they had erected concertina wires on the roads to prevent the large gathering of people.
The traffic was also off the roads especially in Old city areas of Srinagar, witnesses said, adding that action was also taken against the auto drivers found violating the norms.
Besides, the shops and other establishments also remained closed as the government has ordered closure of all the establishments except the chemists and other shops selling essential commodities. Many of the roads in Srinagar and other districts wore deserted look today with people preferring to stay indoors to protect themselves from the deadly virus.
Similar lockdown reports were received from Southern and northern districts of Kashmir. In north Kashmir, as per KNO correspondent, the districts went in shutdown mode with preferring to close down their business units. In Baramulla only, the markets remained open while as in Kupwara and Bandipora, the people preferred to stay indoors. In these districts, the public transport remained off the roads while the private vehicles were seen moving normally.
In Southern districts, the public transport remained off the roads while as the private vehicles plied normally, as per the KNO Correspondent, who added that the people in most areas of these districts stayed indoors. It is worth to mention here that some of religious clerics across valley Masjids cut short the mandatory Friday congregational prayers while Jamiat-e-Ahlihadees put Friday prayers on hold till March 31 to prevent large gathering that is being advised to avoid by the health experts.
During the prayers, the Muslims were seen attending the congregational prayers while wearing masks. Special prayers were held by religious clerics with regard to the coronavirus – (KNO)
