March 05, 2025 01:29 pm (IST)
Follow us:
Eighteen Indians among those killed in Mecca stampede: MEA
New Delhi/Mina, Saudi Arabai, Sept 26 (IBNS) Eighteen Indians have died in the stampede outside the holy city of Mecca which has claimed lives of more than 700 Haj pilgirms, the External Affairs Ministry said.
"18 Indian Hajis have now been confirmed dead," said MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup.
Earlier, the MEA gave account of 14 Indians being killed.
The stampede happened at about 9 am in Mina at the intersection of two streets leading to Jamarat, about five km from Mecca, where pilgrims "stone the devil" in a ritual by throwing pebbles at three large pillars.
The worst tragedy in 25 years at the annual Muslim pilgrimage spurred King Salman of Saudi Arabia to order "a revision" of Haj organisation while authorities started a probe into the disaster.
Mina is a camp city, a few kilometres from Mecca, where pilgrims from across the world stay for several days during the Haj in a complex of white fireproof tents big enough to hold more than two million people.
This is the second major disaster at Mecca this month after over 100 people were killed on September 12, when a construction crane crashed on the Grand Mosque.
In 2006, 364 pilgrims were killed in a stampede during the stoning ritual in Mina, among them 51 Indians.
Helpline numbers released by Government of India: 00966125458000, 00966125496000
Toll free number for pilgrims: 8002477786
The stampede happened at about 9 am in Mina at the intersection of two streets leading to Jamarat, about five km from Mecca, where pilgrims "stone the devil" in a ritual by throwing pebbles at three large pillars.
The worst tragedy in 25 years at the annual Muslim pilgrimage spurred King Salman of Saudi Arabia to order "a revision" of Haj organisation while authorities started a probe into the disaster.
Mina is a camp city, a few kilometres from Mecca, where pilgrims from across the world stay for several days during the Haj in a complex of white fireproof tents big enough to hold more than two million people.
This is the second major disaster at Mecca this month after over 100 people were killed on September 12, when a construction crane crashed on the Grand Mosque.
In 2006, 364 pilgrims were killed in a stampede during the stoning ritual in Mina, among them 51 Indians.
Helpline numbers released by Government of India: 00966125458000, 00966125496000
Toll free number for pilgrims: 8002477786
Support Our Journalism
We cannot do without you.. your contribution supports unbiased journalism
IBNS is not driven by any ism- not wokeism, not racism, not skewed secularism, not hyper right-wing or left liberal ideals, nor by any hardline religious beliefs or hyper nationalism. We want to serve you good old objective news, as they are. We do not judge or preach. We let people decide for themselves. We only try to present factual and well-sourced news.
Support objective journalism for a small contribution.
Latest Headlines
Kannada actress Ranya Rao arrested at Bengaluru airport for smuggling Rs 12 cr gold
Wed, Mar 05 2025
Hyderabad techie dies by suicide after 6 months of wedding, family alleges dowry harrasment by husband
Tue, Mar 04 2025
Rajnath Singh says India's security apparatus must remain adaptive to emerging threats
Tue, Mar 04 2025
Calling someone ‘Miyan-Tiyan’ or ‘Pakistani’ in poor taste but not a crime: Supreme Court
Tue, Mar 04 2025
SC slams states over failure to ensure affordable healthcare, flags pvt hospital exploitation
Tue, Mar 04 2025
Slammed for fat-shaming cricketer Rohit Sharma, Congress leader Shama Mohamed defends herself, brings up old tweet by Kangana Ranaut
Tue, Mar 04 2025
S Jaishankar to visit UK, Ireland today to enhance ties
Tue, Mar 04 2025