South African Cleric Who Attended Nizamuddin Congregation Dies After Returning Home

Moulana Yusuf Tootla, a South African Muslim cleric who returned home recently after attending the Nizamuddin congregation last month, has died after contracting the novel coronavirus, his family members have said.

The 80-year-old Tootla was among hundreds of foreign nationals from countries like Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Kyrgyzstan and South Africa to attend the March 1-15 Tablighi Jamaat congregation.

The Nizamuddin congregation has emerged as an epicentre for the spread of coronavirus in different states of India, leading to a nationwide search to trace people who attended the huge religious gathering.

According to media reports in South Africa, a family member said that Tootla started showing flu-like symptoms on his return from India. He was then tested for coronavirus and found to be positive.

According to the family member, he seemed to have recovered from the virus but started feeling ill again. His condition deteriorated rapidly and he succumbed to the disease on Tuesday.