Virus scare: Mumbai's Haji Ali, Mahim Dargahs closed for

No entry will be allowed to devotees at the landmark Haji Ali Dargah (shrine) as well as the popular Mahim Dargah in Mumbai in view of the coronavirus epidemic, it was announced on Thursday.

The decision to stop entry at the two shrines till further notice was taken following the Maharashtra government's advice to avoid crowding in public places, said Suhail Khandwani, Managing Trustee of Mahim Dargah and a Trustee of the Haji Ali Dargah.

Both these shrines attract lakhs of devotees, Muslim as well as non-Muslim, every year.

"We were discussing the issue with various authorities for the past few day. The decision was necessary in the interest of the city," Khandwani told PTI.

"People's lives are of paramount importance," he added, asking the devotees to cooperate.

Earlier, the famous Siddhivinayak temple in the city had taken a similar decision.