New Delhi: The authorities at the historical Jama Masjid mosque in central Delhi, which opened on June 8, are mulling closing the mosque for some more time looking at the spike in the number of novel coronavirus (Covid-19) cases.
The development comes a day after Jama Masjid Shahi Imam Syed Ahmed Bukhari’s secretary Amantullah passed away at Safdarjung hospital on Tuesday night due to Covid-19.
Syed Ahmed Bukhari said that he has asked the people to share their views to close the mosque in view of the number of Covid-19 cases and fatalities.
He said the suggestions that I am getting through WhatsApp messages and the social media show that over 70 per cent people are of the view to close the mosque in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bukhari said that he has also appealed to the people to offer namaz from their homes.
He added that the decision to close the mosque or not will be taken by Thursday evening.
On Tuesday, Delhi saw a spike of 1,366 fresh cases of Covid-19, taking the tally to 31,309, while the death toll mounted to 905, authorities said on Wednesday.
The mosque had opened on June 8 after a gap of over two months with the government allowing further relaxations as part of “Unlock-1”, the first phase of a calibrated exit from the novel coronavirus-induced nationwide lockdown.