Srinagar, Oct 01: Following the surge in COVID-19 cases, the government on Friday disallowed congregational prayers in most of the mosques and Shrines in Srinagar city.

It has been learnt that congregational prayer was not allowed in major mosques and shrines at Hazratbal, Makhdoom sahib (RA), Jamia Masjid and other major shrines and masjids in Srinagar.

The devotees who have come from the far flung areas expressed anguish for barring them from offering congregational prayers at Makhdoom Sahab (RA) shrine at Rainawari.

One of the devotees said, “I had come from a far flung area to offer Friday congregational prayers at Makhdoom Sahab (RA) shrine, but I was not allowed to enter.”

She said, “The government is only putting curbs on offering congregational prayers; however they do not keep tabs on other places and events wherein COVID-19 can spread more rapidly.”

In the meantime, another local Farooq Ahmad of north Kashmir’s Bandipora district said, “We were stopped from entering the Makhdoom Sahab (RA) shrine.”

Farooq Said, “From downstairs up to the gate of the shrine, everybody is stopping us with an excuse of COVID-19. I failed to understand why curbs are being put at the major shrines only, however most of the roads and malls across the city are full of people.”

Meanwhile, the locals of other areas of Kashmir region told KNO that congregational prayers were allowed in some small mosques of the periphery area.

Pertinently, Srinagar district in the past one week has witnessed a significant rise in COVID-19 cases. An official said that in the wake of rise in Covid positive cases in Srinagar, prayers are being barred at some major shrines and masjids in Srinagar as a “precautionary measure.”kno