SRINAGAR, India-controlled Kashmir, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- Education department in India-controlled Kashmir ordered all the government and private institutions to stop morning prayers from Thursday due to A/H1N1 flu threat in the region, an official spokesman said.

    The step has been taken as a preventive measure against the spread of the flu.

    "It is just a precautionary measure to avoid viral spread. We want students to avoid crowded places. The heads of the institutions have also been directed to grant leave to students who show even slight symptoms of virus. The students living in hostels should take extra care as well," Shugfta Praveen, director school education in India-controlled Kashmir said.

    The department has also circulated the instructions like the use of proper bins and tissue papers in the schools to take care of the problem.

    Meanwhile, local health department has also established a helpline for pandemic preparedness of the A H1N1 flu in the region for those interested to seek information about the flu.

    According to health officials, so far ten cases have been detected in the region.

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