Special prayers in Srinagar to avoid floods

Srinagar, Apr 1: As fresh rainfall intensified in Kashmir, the residents on Wednesday organised special prayers at many places here to invoke the mercy of the Almighty for improvement in the weather conditions to avoid floods in the Valley again.

Propitiation prayers by organizing community kitchen were held at various places in the city to seek God's forgiveness and better weather conditions in the Valley. [6 bodies recovered from landslides in J&K; toll rises to 19]

"We organized 'Sasrus' (special prayers) to pray for the rains to stop. We prayed to God to save us from floods," Nasir Ali Kalla, a trader in the business hub of Lal Chowk, where one such prayer was held, said.

He said the traders suffered huge losses when the city was flooded in September last year and the prayers were organized to stop rains and save Srinagar from another flood.

"We cannot afford another flood. We are seeking God's blessings and pray to Him to stop these rains and save us from another flood," he said. The traders prepared 'Tehri' (a mix of rice and mutton) as an offering and distributed it among the people.

Though the water level in river Jhelum continued to recede for the second consecutive day but it is expected to rise again in view of fresh rains since last night in the Valley, giving rise to fears of floods among the residents.

Special prayers have also been performed in major mosques and shrines of Kashmir for improvement in weather conditions.

PTI