Trace Contacts of Tablighi Jamaat Attendees on War Footing: Centre

The Tablighi Jamaat congregation in New Delhi’s Nizamuddin has set off nationwide alarm.

People wearing masks leave for hospital in a bus from Nizamuddin area, after several people showed symptoms of coronavirus following taking part in a religious gathering a few days ago, during the nationwide lockdown, in New Delhi, Monday, 30 March.

(Photo: PTI)

The Tablighi Jamaat congregation in New Delhi's Nizamuddin has set off a nationwide alarm, with authorities across states rushing to identify people who were present at the coronavirus hotspot.

Over 6,000 people who attended the congregation have been identified, and over 5,000 of these have been quarantined, including in hospitals across states, while efforts are on to trace another 2,000 including in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, as on Wednesday, 1 April, PTI reported.

Cabinet Secretary Rajiv Gauba, in a meeting with all state secretaries has directed them to trace all those who attended the congregation "on a war footing" to contain the COVID-19, reported NDTV.

The congregation of preachers took place in early March in Bangla Wali Masjid in Nizamuddin area where Markaz (headquarters) of the Jamaat is located. It is believed that over 800 foreign nationals from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Nepal, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Kyrgyzstan had attended the event.

Modi to Discuss Matter?

Amid heightened efforts to contain the pandemic, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will also hold a video conference with chief ministers of all states on Thursday, 2 April, PTI reported.

During this meeting, issues such as ways to contain the spread of COVID-19, movement of migrants etc will be discussed. Contact tracing of Tablighi Jamaat participants are likely to come up for discussion, sources said, as per PTI.

In the Union Health Ministry briefing on Wednesday, officials urged people to follow all government guidelines during the lockdown period, and to avoid congregations, including religious gatherings.

The latest Health Ministry update put the nationwide tally of the confirmed COVID-19 cases at 1,637, after 376 new cases were recorded in the last 24 hours, and the death count at 38.

'Big Damage': Minorities Commission Responds

The Nizamuddin congregation caused "big damage" to the government's efforts to contain the pandemic, said National Commission for Minorities, reported PTI.

According to the government, over 2,000 foreigners from 70 countries arrived in India since 1 January to participate in Jamaat activities of which over 1,000 got stuck at Nizamuddin due to the lockdown. Many of them had a six-month tourist visa.

Health Ministry officials said the huge surge in cases seen is largely due to Tablighi Jamaat congregation, which took place in mid-March, and therefore technically it does not show a national trend.

Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said 2,361 people were evacuated from the place of the Nizamuddin congregation, out of which 617 have been admitted to hospitals for showing COVID-19 symptoms while the rest are quarantined. 1,810 people have been put in isolation or home quarantine, said Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, adding that authorities are tracking mobile phones of people under quarantine to check their movement.

Meanwhile, the Gujarat High Court issued notice to the central and the state governments seeking information on those who attended the Nizamuddin congregation.

Southern States Identify, Isolate Those Who Attended Gathering

In Tamil Nadu, at least 515 persons have been identified for having attended the Nizamuddin meet, while at least 59 of them have been quarantined. In Telangana, 50 of the 57 positive cases had attended the gathering, while the state authorities have identified and quarantined at least 840 people linked to the event. The search is on for 160 others.

Other states are also keeping an eye on those having returned home after their Delhi visit, even as Tamil Nadu appealed to the untraceable persons to voluntarily turn up before the authorities concerned for further medical action.

In Karnataka, at least 50 foreigners have been quarantined after they were found to have attended the congregation while 12 others are said to have left the country. The state authorities have also identified 342 Indians who had attended the event, out of which nearly 200 have been quarantined. Kerala has also zeroed in on all those who travelled to Delhi for the event.

(With inputs from PTI, NDTV)