A congregation similar to that in Delhi’s Nizamuddin, now linked to a Covid-19 spread across the country, was called off in Maharashtra after an alert home department withdrew permission in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.

A two-day programme was scheduled in Vasai, on the outskirts of Mumbai, on March 14-15. The organisers had said 50,000 people were expected to attend the Tablighi Ijtema where the Quran would be recited and namaaz offered.

Permission for the event was granted on February 5. However, after coronavirus cases began to be reported in the country, Maharashtra police on March 6 cancelled the permission in view of the risk that a large gathering posed.

Home minister Anil Deshmukh, who announced this in a statement, said had the home department in Delhi been as alert, the current spread could have been avoided. Delhi police report to the Union home ministry.