The funeral of a Muslim cleric in Uttar Pradesh's Badaun, attended by tens of thousands on Sunday, has raised fears of a super-spreader as the state battles a Covid spiral. The UP police launched investigations into the event after filing a First Information Report (FIR) on Monday.
The cleric, Abdul Hamid Mohammad Salimul Qadri, died on Sunday afternoon.
Within hours, thousands had come from various parts of the state to Badaun and, violating all Covid safety rules and an ongoing lockdown, gathered at the mosque where the cleric's body was kept for public viewing.
Few masks were seen in the teeming crowds, which amassed apparently without the knowledge of the administration or the police. An aerial view showed hardly any breathing space in the mass gathering.
Visuals of the event, which have gone viral, have led to fear in the administration of a jump in infections.
To fight Covid, the UP government has restricted the number of people at funerals to 20. The penalty for not wearing masks is also stiff - Rs 1,000 the first time and Rs 10,000 for repeat offence.
"Cases have been filed against unknown people under the Epidemics Act. We are watching the video to gather evidence and strict action will be taken against those found violating restrictions," Badaun Superintendent of Police Sankalp Sharma told NDTV.
Uttar Pradesh has seen a dip over the past few days but Covid cases remain high at over 20,000 a day.
Samajwadi Party MP Zia Ur Rehman Barq, Accused Of Electricity Theft, Fined Rs 1.9 Crore Smoke In Coach Of Uttar Pradesh Train Causes Panic Among Passengers, Glitch Promptly Resolved UP Court Orders FIR Against BJP MLA Harish Shakya On Gangrape And Fraud charges Parents On Mumbai Ferry Wanted To Toss Children In Sea. Rescuers Stopped Them Video: Bird's-Eye View Of Devastation After Jaipur Accident That Killed 14 2 Dead, 60 Injured In German Christmas Market Car Attack, Saudi Man Arrested "World Is Sick": Survivors Recount Attack In Germany's Market That Killed 2 2 Men Seen Outside Sanjay Raut's Bungalow Were Testing Mobile Network: Cops Saudi Arabia Expresses "Solidarity" With Germany After Market Attack Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.