A 70-year-old preacher from Punjab recently died of the coronavirus infection, but not before coming in contact with thousands of people from across at least 15 villages.

The man, identified as Baldev Singh, had returned to Punjab after his trip to Italy and Germany. He reportedly refused to self-quarantine despite being advised to do so and attended a six-day Sikh festival that attracts over 10000 people every day. 19 of the man's relatives tested positive for the virus a week after his death. "So far, we have been able to trace 550 people who came into direct contact with him and the number is growing. We have sealed 15 villages around the area he stayed," a senior official reportedly told a news agency. Five other villages around the district have been sealed as well. A similar mass quarantine situation was reported in India after Bollywood singer Kanika Kapoor tested positive for COVID-19 upon her return to Lucknow from London. She hosted a lavish party at a five-star hotel that was attended by hundreds of people, including bureaucrats, politicians and socialites. All of them have been traced and tested.

In an attempt to contain the spread of the virus across the country, PM Narendra Modi imposed a nationwide lockdown that came into effect on March 25 at 12.00 am and will be enforced for 21 days. 945 cases and 21 deaths have been reported in the country so far.