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Haj stampede shocks world
Four Indians, including a woman, were among 717 people killed and over 860 others injured in a stampede on Thursday when Haj pilgrims jostled their way to perform symbolic stoning of the devil here, marking the culmination of the annual pilgrimage.
4 Indians among 717 killed; over 860 injured
Mina: Four Indians, including a woman, were among 717 people killed and over 860 others injured in a stampede on Thursday when Haj pilgrims jostled their way to perform symbolic stoning of the devil here, marking the culmination of the annual pilgrimage.
At least two Indian pilgrims were among the injured in the tragedy, the second worst to occur in 25 years during the world's holiest Muslim pilgrimage.
A sudden surge in the number of pilgrims heading to Jamarat for symbolic stoning of the devil by throwing pebbles against three stone walls resulted in the stampede at 9 am local time (11:30 IST).
Saudi Press Agency said the stampede occurred at the intersection of two streets leading to Jamarat, about five kilometres from Makkah.
The Saudi civil defence authority said that 717 pilgrims from different nationalities were killed and 863 others were injured.
It was not immediately clear what caused the stampede, the second worst after 1990 when 1,426 pilgrims were killed in a stampede inside a tunnel leading to holy sites.
The Indian Consulate in Jeddah said there were no reports of any Indian being killed in the stampede so far. However, two Indians from Assam were injured and have been admitted to hospital.
Indian Haj mission doctors were deployed in all government hospitals in Mina and Mecca to ascertain if there were any Indian casualties, the Consulate said in a statement adding it was continuously monitoring the situation.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed pain at the loss of lives in stampede in Mecca and conveyed his condolences to the families of the deceased. "Distressing news from Mecca," tweeted Modi,
who is in the USA on a six-day visit. "Pained at loss of lives due to the stampede. Condolences to families of the deceased & prayers with the injured," he added.
