Nizamuddin cordoned off as several show Covid symptoms

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 30

A major chunk of Delhi’s Nizamuddin neighbourhood, famous for the mausoleum of Sufi Saint Nizamuddin Aaulia, was today cordoned off by the Delhi police after several people showed signs of Covid-19 days after they attended a religious congregation in a nearby mosque.

Close to 200 people, including foreigners who attended the gathering a few days ago, were sent across Delhi hospitals for Covid-19 tests.

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has ordered registration of an FIR against an organiser (maulana) of the Tabligh-e-Jamaat congregation. Around 2,000 had participated in defiance of the ongoing lockdown and curfew orders. The police have also served a notice to the local organisers.

A WHO team also visited the area . The congregation was attended by preachers from several countries, including Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Dubai, Uzbekistan and Malaysia. About 600 Indians from different parts of the country also participated.

The Indian members of the group left on trains and flights. Contacts of a few cases that were identified were traced to the congregation, the officials said.

Alarm bells started ringing after a man in his 60s who had attended the congregation succumbed to COVID-19 in Srinagar last week.

According to officials, there were several smaller congregations culminating in the big meeting at the headquarters of the organisation, which shares its wall with the Nizamuddin police station.

(With inputs from PTI)