Kashmir sees subdued Eid festivities amid coronavirus curfew

Police and security forces in the Kashmir valley were seen enforcing curfew strictly on Thursday in order to stop people from mingling on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.

Most people, except for those connected with essential services like the health department and media, were not allowed to move by the police or sent home.

Eid prayers were held in local mosques with complete social distancing, although the majority of people preferred to pray at home. No big gatherings were held in any of the main masjids like the Jamia Masjid Srinagar or the Hazratbal shrine as all such places of worship were closed for Eid prayers.

Jammu and Kashmir is currently reeling under Covid-19 with over 50,000 active cases, most of them in the twin capitals of Srinagar and Jammu.

In order to flatten the curve and stop the spread of the infection, authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have already extended the curfew up to May 17, which has resulted in very few public activities on the streets and in the markets of Kashmir.