People who showed coronavirus symptoms being taken to various hospitals from the Nizamuddin area in New Delhi. (Photo: PTI)

After around 200 people were taken for coronavirus testing as they showed symptoms after participating in a religious gathering at the Alami Markaz Banglewali Masjid in Delhi's Nizamuddin area, the Delhi government has said that "it looks like social distancing and quarantine protocols were not practiced after the imposition of lockdown on March 24 and strong action will be taken".

"A Lockdown was imposed in entire India on 24th March and it was the duty of every owner and administrator of every hotel, guest house, hostel and similar establishment to maintain social distancing. It looks like social distancing and quarantine protocols were not practiced here," a statement by the AAP-led Delhi government said.

The Delhi Police on Monday cordoned off a major area in Nizamuddin where several people showed symptoms of coronavirus after taking part in a religious gathering a few days ago.

The gathering took place at the Alami Markaz Banglewali Masjid, the headquarters of the popular Tablighi Jamaat in the Nizamuddin area.

Police said that the gathering of around 200 people was organised without permission from authorities.

Delhi government said that the lockdown guidelines were violated and several coronavirus positive cases have emerged from the religious gathering. It added, "strong action would be taken against those in charge of the establishment".

"Now it has come to our knowledge that the administrators violated these [lockdown] conditions and several cases of corona positive patients have been found here. Strong action would be taken against those in charge of this establishment. By this gross act of negligence, many lives have been endangered. It was the responsibility of every citizen to proactively avoid such a gathering of people during the lockdown and this is nothing but a criminal act," the Delhi government statement said.

"After Center informed us about the first positive patient and requested assistance, we moved all symptomatic patients to our medical facilities and as a safety precaution, all non-symptomatic contacts have been moved to the quarantine centres," Delhi government added.