AS the number of novel coronavirus cases in India crossed 2,000, the Nizamuddin basti neighbourhood in South Delhi has emerged as the country’s pandemic hotspot. A gathering of an estimated 3,400 members and preachers of the Tablighi Jamaat here in early March has left a trail of infection and deaths from Kashmir to Tamil Nadu to even the Andaman Islands. Hundreds among the attendees resided, in close proximity, in the six-storey dormitory at Banglewali Mosque, the markaz or global headquarters of the organisation in Nizamuddin. The Jamaat is a global Islamic evangelical movement that originated in India in 1927.
As of April 2, 15 COVID-19-related deaths in the country had been linked to the March 10-13 congregation at the markaz—nine in Telangana, two in Delhi, and one each in Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The dead include a Filipino national, say, officials. Around 400 attendees have tested positive for novel coronavirus. Around 9,000 people—Jamaat members and their primary contacts—have been quarantined across the country. Of these, some 1,800 people are under watch in nine hospitals and quarantine centres in Delhi. “The recent rise in COVID-19 cases in India does not represent a national trend. The numbers rose because of [infections caused by] the movement of people of the Tablighi Jamaat,” said Lav Agarwal, joint secretary, Union ministry for health, at a media briefing on April 1.
This story is from the April 13, 2020 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the April 13, 2020 edition of India Today.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
BJP's Big Paschim Test
On paper, the BJP-RLD tie-up is a winner for the NDA in west UP, though the INDIA bloc thinks otherwise. The BSP's entry with mixed candidates can unsettle both alliances
Why Gen V Matters
The Way The 210 Million-Strong Generation Viksit Bharat Casts Its Vote Will Determine The Outcome Of This Election As It Has In The Past
Heart Stopper
Cushions with tales of beauty, serenity, art and nature
THE NIPPON NARRATIVE
Say konnichiwa to good design and sayōnara to bad aesthetics, as this apartment in Bangalore is a lesson in how to use Japanese design effectively
RURAL RESPLENDENCE
This second home in a small village in Uttar Pradesh brings to life the beauty and simplicity of locally sourced materials
Curves in the Right Places
Arches may be taking over interior design, but how and where you place them in your home can make or mar the look of the room
Marvels in Mud
Here's how this humble material is changing the way we look at eco-friendly homes in India
DESIGN FOR THE AGES
Five homes, five distinct design styles that help decode how to curate age-appropriate spaces
TAKE FIVE
FROM RUGS TO CUSHIONS, THESE DECOR PIECES WILL GIVE YOUR INTERIORS AN INSTANT MAKEOVER THIS SEASON
TRENDY TABLESCAPES
At the turn of the season, three fashion labels throw a soiree that is stylish, suave and sophisticated