New Delhi: Over a thousand people have been whisked from Delhi's Nizamuddin area  by officials after the religious gathering held at Markaz earlier this month came to light, those with symptoms have been sent to hospitals, while the rest were sent for isolation. The people who attended a religious prayer meeting from March 13-15 at Markaz in the Nizamuddin were sent to Lok Nayak Hospital for coronavirus test on Monday night.

'We are not certain of the number but it is estimated that 1500-1700 people had assembled at Markaz building. 1033 people have been evacuated so far - 334 of them have been sent to hospital & 700 sent to quarantine center,' Satyendar Jain, Delhi Health Minister said.

The total number of coronavirus cases in the national capital climbed to 97 on Monday, with 25 fresh cases being reported in a day, according to the Delhi Health Department.

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police cordoned off a major area in Nizamuddin West in south Delhi which emerged as a hotspot after a religious meeting was held at Markaz by the Tableeghi Jamaat earlier this month.

The congregation violated the lockdown conditions and several COVID-19 positive cases have been found among those who attended the gathering.

More than 200 people showing symptoms of COVID-19 were admitted to different hospitals by Delhi's Heath Department, police said.

"As many as 85 people were brought to LNJP Hospital on Sunday from Nizamuddin area and 68 were brought today, so a total of 153 are admitted in isolation wards and being tested for infection," LNJP MS Dr J C Passey said.

Over 2,000 delegates, including from Indonesia and Malaysia, attended the Tabligh-e-Jamaat congregation in Nizamuddin West from March 1-15, officials said as the south Delhi neighbourhood was virtually sealed following fears that some people may have contracted COVID-19.

An FIR against the Maulana, in his early 50s, has been directed, it said.

The suspected outbreak was discovered in Delhi as it emerged that several hid their travel history to foreign countries and a large congregation was held on March 13-5 at a markaz in Nizamuddin.

Six who attended gathering dead in Telangana: 

Six persons from Telangana who attended the religious prayer in Delhi's Nizamuddin area, have died of coronavirus, Telangana Chief Minister's office (CMO) said on Monday.

The government appealed to all those who had attended the Markaz prayers in Delhi to inform the authorities.

"All those, who went for the Markaz prayers in Delhi should inform authorities. The government would conduct tests and offer treatment to them free of cost. Anyone who has information about them should alert the government and authorities," the Medical and Health Department of Telangana stated in a statement.

Out of the total cases in Delhi, five have been discharged and one had died earlier and one has migrated out of the country.
(with inputs from agencies)