Representational Image | Photo Credit: PTI

Key Highlights The entire locality, where the event took place, has been sealed by authorities The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Madhya Pradesh stands at 154

Morena: A Dubai-returned man and at least 11 of his family members have tested positive for Novel Coronavirus or COVID-19 in Madhya Pradesh's Morena district on Friday. Alarmingly, they have contracted the infection days after organising a feast for over 1,500 people in the honour of the man's dead mother.

As soon as they tested positive for the deadly virus, the local authorities moved swiftly and sealed the entire colony where the function took place in order to prevent any further outbreak of the disease.

The man has been identified as Suresh and he works as a waiter in Dubai. He returned to India on March 17 and organised the mega feast on March 20. Reportedly, over 1500 people attended the function in Madhya Pradesh's Morena.

Later on March 25, Suresh began exhibiting coronavirus symptoms but he did not visit a hospital for the following four days. He went to the hospital on March 29 and was immediately quarantined along with his wife.

It was on April 2 that Suresh and his wife tested positive for coronavirus. The authorities tested 23 of his close relatives and found 10 of them positive as well.

While speaking to media, Morena's Chief Medical Officer Dr RC Bandil said, "We sent 23 samples of the contacts of the two positive patients and received the reports on Friday. Out of them, 10, including eight women, have tested positive for the virus."

"All 12 patients have now been quarantined at the hospital, while those who tested negative have been put under 14 days isolation at their houses in different parts of Morena district," added Bandil.

As per reports, Suresh was tested for coronavirus in Dubai before his arrival but was exhibiting no symptoms then. He has claimed that his wife was not feeling well two days before coming to Morena.

Meanwhile, as many as 2547 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 62 virus-related deaths have been reported across the country so far, confirmed the Health Ministry on Friday evening. Madhya Pradesh has reported 104 cases and six deaths due to coronavirus so far.