1500 people from Gujarat were present in Nizamuddin area last month: Govt

At least 1500 people from Gujarat were present in Nizamuddin area of Delhi, which is now under a strict lockdown in view of the coronavirus outbreak, when a religious congregation was being held there last month, officials said on Wednesday (April 1).

However, the state government is yet to know the exact number of people who had attended the gathering.

Joint teams of police and civic authorities in Surat, Bhavnagar and neighbouring Botad city traced 60 such people who were believed to be present in Nizamuddin area and have put them under home as well as institutional quarantine over Tuesday night, an official release stated.

Related news: 128 COVID-19 cases across country from Nizamuddin event

Nizamuddin area has emerged as one of the hotspots for the coronavirus outbreak since the Tablighi Jamaat congregation was held there, prompting many states to launch a massive search for the attendees amidst fear of transmission of the virus.

A health department release stated that authorities had started tracking these 1,500 people in various cities and districts.

Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, meanwhile, said that each person from Gujarat who had gone to Delhi earlier this month to attend the markaz will be traced and quarantined. He said the exact number of people who had attended the event will be announced later this evening.

The CM also warned of action against those who had attended the markaz.

“We will get the details of people who had gone there from Gujarat by today evening. The exact number will also be announced by evening. We will trace each and every one of them and put them under quarantine. We will also lodge complaints against them for breaking lockdown rules,” he said.

Related news: ‘We are warning you:’ Video shows Delhi cop telling Markaz members

Rupani further said that such “irresponsible act which could harm the entire society can never be tolerated.”

Meanwhile, Surat Municipal Commissioner Banchhanidhi Pani said that 43 people were traced overnight and were sent to a central quarantine facility.

“A detailed questioning of these 43 persons has revealed that only one out of them had actually attended the event inside the Markaz while others had gone to Nizamuddin area for some other work or they were on a business trip,” said Surat Commissioner of Police RB Brahmbhatt.

Related news: After Doval’s midnight talk, markaz Maulana moves to clear out masjid

While 13 such persons, who were in Nizamuddin area, were traced and quarantined in Bhavnagar yesterday, four others were quarantined in Botad district, said Inspector General of Police, Ashok Yadav.

Ten others were traced and quarantined in Valsad while 15 were quarantined in Navsari so far, said authorities.