Religious places to re-open in J&K from August 16

JAMMU: In a major decision, the government of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday announced that all religious places and places of worship, including the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, will be reopened.

Principal secretary and government spokesperson Rohit Kansal said, “Major decision by J&K Government. All religious places and places of worship to open in Jammu & Kashmir from August 16. Religious processions and large religious gatherings remain strictly prohibited.”

A senior official of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board said, “Since the government has taken a decision to open religious places, we shall be strictly adhering to the Covid-19 SOPS before re-opening the shrine to devotees.”

J&K DISTRICTS CLASSIFIED INTO RED, ORANGE, GREEN ZONES

The J&K administration on Tuesday classified the districts into red, orange and green zones for the purpose of implementing the lockdown from Wednesday.

An order issued by the state executive committee, exercising the powers conferred under Section 24 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, declared all districts of Kashmir province, (except Bandipora district) and Ramban district of Jammu province as red zones; Kathua, Samba, Bandipora, Reasi, Udhampur, Poonch, Rajouri and Jammu districts as orange zones; and Doda and Kishtwar as green zones.

The Lakhanpur containment zone on the National Highway will be a red containment zone with a 500m buffer, the order stated.