Guwahati/Tinsukia: A total of 299 persons from Assam attended the religious congregation at a mosque in Delhi’s Nizamuudin area which has come under the scanner amid reports that up to 24 positive cases and seven deaths have been linked to the event attended by close to 2,000 people.
The development has created a wave of panic compelling the state government to issue an “urgent request” to the people of Assam to voluntarily report if they attended the religious congregation.
Assam finance and health minister tweeted at 11.06 am on Tuesday: “Urgent Request
If there is anyone from Assam who attended the religious congregation of Tablighi Jamaat at Hazrat Nizamuddin in Delhi, please IMMEDIATELY report voluntarily to the nearest government hospital or by calling Helpline no # 104.
Please treat this as very important.”
Urgent Request
If there is anyone from Assam who attended the religious congregation of Tablighi Jamaat at Hazrat Nizamuddin in Delhi, please IMMEDIATELY report voluntarily to the nearest government hospital or by calling Helpline no # 104.
Please treat this as very important.
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) March 31, 2020
An hour later, Sarma retweeted, this time saying that the government is in possession of a list of 299 persons “who were in and around the hotspot near Nizamuddin Dargah”. “We’ve alerted dist admins to find out if these people have returned to Assam, and strict instructions issued to quarantine them if they are in the state,” he added.
Assam Govt is now in possession of a list of 299 persons who were present in and around the hotspot near Nizamuddin Dargah. We’ve alerted dist admins to find out if these people have returned to Assam, and strict instructions issued to quarantine them if they are in the state
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) March 31, 2020
Additional deputy general of police (ADGP) GP Singh said that those who attended the religious congregation from Assam have been tracked down.
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In response to a tweet requesting Assam police to trace the people who had taken part in Markaz in Nizamuudin, Singh tweeted at 10.55 am: “Yes. They’ve been located. Most of them are in Delhi. Rest have been checked and quarantined.”
Yes. They’ve been located. Most of them are in Delhi. Rest have been checked and quarantined.
— GP Singh (@gpsinghassam) March 31, 2020
Earlier, Telangana CMO tweeted from its official handle on Monday: “Six people from Telangana who attended a religious congregation at Markaz in Nizamuddin area of New Delhi from 13-15 March succumbed after they contracted #Coronavirus. Two died in Gandhi Hospital while one each died in Apollo Hospital, Global Hospital, Nizamabad and Gadwal.”
Six people from Telangana who attended a religious congregation at Markaz in Nizamuddin area of New Delhi from 13-15 March succumbed after they contracted #Coronavirus. Two died in Gandhi Hospital while one each died in Apollo Hospital, Global Hospital, Nizamabad and Gadwal
— Telangana CMO (@TelanganaCMO) March 30, 2020
On Monday, six days after the countrywide lockdown, India witnessed over 200 positive cases — the sharpest single-day rise of in the number of cases related to coronavirus — and death of over half a dozen persons. The total death toll in India at the time of filing this news report stood at 32, as per the Union ministry of health and family welfare website updated at 9.30 pm on March 30, 2020.
Latest tweets from minister Sarma:
#NizamuddinUpdate ~ We have received another list of 157 persons from Assam who were near hotspot of Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin Dargarh. We are acting swiftly and in best possible manner to quarantine all of them, as and when they reach Assam or those who may have reached.
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) March 31, 2020
Held an urgent Video Conference with all DCs & SPs advised them to take swift & strict measures for all those who returned from hotstpot at #NizamuddinMarkaz of #TablighiJamaat. All of them shall be quarantined by evening.
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) March 31, 2020