After cases in India exploded due to the Tablighi Jamaat congregation, Sikh pilgrims now pose a new Covid-19 threat in Punjab, where 167 cases were reported on Thursday.

148 out of 542 total Covid-19 cases reported in the state are Sikh pilgrims, who returned from Nanded, Maharashtra.

Out of 148 Sikh pilgrims, 76 tested positive in Amritsar, 38 in Ludhiana and 10 in Mohali.

A total 3,500 pilgrims reached Punjab from Nanded during past three days — a development that may cost dear to Punjab

According to reports, nearly 3,700 Sikh pilgrims were stranded in Hazur Sahib Gurudwara in Nanded.

Government records show that 3,500 of them reached Punjab and have been put into quarantine at various places.

The state government had sent 80 buses to bring them back to Punjab.

Sources say hundreds of Sikh pilgrims had returned to Punjab before April 26. They were neither stopped at the checkpoints nor were screened.

According to the security agencies, the number of Sikh pilgrims who returned to their homes in Punjab is more than 200. These pilgrims returned to Punjab in private vehicles.

The health department officials are now actively trying to trace them and put them under home quarantine.

As of Friday, Punjab had 357 confirmed cases of Covid-19 with 90 recoveries and 19 deaths.