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Crane accident in Makkah claims several lives, hundreds injured

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People of ‪#‎Makkah‬ throng hospitals to donate blood

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11 Indians killed in Mecca crane collapse: MEA | Zee News
Hyderabad: The Ministry of External Affairs on Sunday confirmed that 11 Indians were among over 100 people who were killed at Mecca`s Grand Mosque after collapse of a construction crane.


Vikas Swarup, Official Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs, tweeted, “Mission is extending all possible assistance to the families of the 11 deceased pilgrims to complete formalities in #Makkah”.

"Working with relatives of missing persons, and Private Tour Operators our officials have unfortunately confirmed that an additional 9 Indian pilgrims have died in the tragic accident," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said in New Delhi.

"While our officials on the ground in Mecca continue to provide assistance to the injured Indians, Saudi authorities permitted the opening of the mortuary for identification of deceased pilgrims on Sunday, the 13th evening," he said.

The mission is extending all necessary help to the families in order to complete formalities in Mecca, he added.

Yesterday, two Indian women pilgrims who died were identified as Moniza Ahmed from West Bengal and Muameena Ismail from Kerala.

The additional nine people who died were today identified as Mohd Hanif, Tabassum, Hassan Kharaj, Zafar Sheikh, Zakira Begum, Mohammed Abdul Khadar, Fatima Begum, Shameem Bano and Khader Bee.

With more Indians confirmed dead in Mecca, the new toll following the crash of a huge red crane into a part of the Grand Mosque filled with worshippers on Friday has gone up to 115, less than two weeks before the annual pilgrimage.

Among the injured are three each from Maharashtra, Telangana, UP and MP, two each from Delhi and West Bengal, and one each from Punjab, Bihar and Assam.

Thousands of pilgrims, including hundreds of Indians, have already arrived in Mecca for Haj. Saudi authorities have ordered a probe into the incident.

(With PTI Inputs)
 
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Saudi King sanctions Binladin Group after deadly crane collapse | Zee News

Last Updated: Tuesday, September 15, 2015 - 21:55

Riyadh: Saudi Arabia`s King Salman on Tuesday sanctioned the Saudi Binladin Group for last Friday`s crane collapse at Mecca`s Grand Mosque, which killed more than 100 people days before the hajj pilgrimage.

The construction firm belongs to the family of the late Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.

According to the official Saudi Press Agency, executives in the firm are forbidden from leaving the kingdom pending the completion of judicial action against it following the collapse at Islam`s holiest site.

AFP
 
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Vice President's Secretariat
24-September, 2015 20:02 IST
Vice President condoles the death of Haj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia

The Vice President of India, Shri M. Hamid Ansari has offered condolences to His Royal Highness Prince Muhammad Bin Nayef, Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at the tragic loss of lives of a large number of Haj pilgrims in an unfortunate incident of stampede at Mina on 24 September.

Following is the text of Vice President’s message:

“We deeply mourn this tragedy and extend our heartfelt condolences to you and to the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We express our solemn thoughts and pray in this hour of grief for the departed souls.”

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Prime Minister's Office
24-September, 2015 16:51 IST
PM condoles the loss of lives due to stampede in Saudi Arabia

Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, has condoled the loss of lives due to the stampede in Saudi Arabia.

"Distressing news from Mecca. Pained at loss of lives due to the stampede. Condolences to families of the deceased and prayers with the injured," the Prime Minister said.

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PM Narendra Modi expresses pain over loss of lives in Mecca stampede | Zee News

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday 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.

At least 310 people were killed and 450 others injured today in a stampede during the Haj at Mina, near the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, as per the latest information about one of the worst incidents in nearly a decade to hit the annual pilgrimage.

Over two million pilgrims, including more than 1.5 lakh Indians, are performing the Haj this year.

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Sonia Gandhi expresses shock over stampede deaths in Mecca | Zee News
New Delhi: Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Thursday expressed deep shock and distress over the deaths and injuries in a stampede in Mecca.

Gandhi prayed for the well being of the Haj pilgrims and hoped that Indian citizens in Mina were safe.

Over two million pilgrims, including more than 1.5 lakh Indians, are performing the Haj this year.

PTI

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Stampede at Mecca: MEA issues helpline numbers for Indian nationals | Zee News

New Delhi: In an effort to reach out to Indians in Haj at Mina where stampede claimed over 300 lives, Ministry of External Affairs has released a few emergency numbers.

Official spokesperson of MEA, Vikas Swarup, has shared the emergency numbers on his Twitter page.

Our emergency Nos in Makkah continue to remain open: 00966125458000 00966125496000 Toll free number for pilgrims in Kingdom: 8002477786

— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 24, 2015

At least 310 people were killed and 450 others injured today in a stampede during the Haj at Mina, near the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, one of the worst incidents in nearly a decade to hit the annual pilgrimage.


Over two million pilgrims, including more than 1.5 lakh Indians, are performing the Haj this year.

Officials at the Indian Consulate in Jeddah have said so far they have no information about any Indian casualty.

The Saudi civil defence authority said 310 people from different nationalities have died in the tragedy.

Rescue operations were underway after the stampede in Mina, where pilgrims were performing the symbolic stoning of the devil by throwing stones at the three pillars.

Eyewitnesses said the stampede happened at the entrance of the Jamarat bridge near Street 204, not inside of the area where the stoning pillars are.

Two teams of medical screening have been set up at the site of the incident. It was not clear what had caused the stampede.

"In my camp there were about 400 pilgrims. All of them are safe. But I am trying to make some calls and ascertain from other people," said Abid Rasool Khan, Chairman Minorities Panel, Andhra Pradesh.
(With PTI inputs)
 
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'Four Indians killed in Hajj stampede in Saudi Arabia' | Zee News

Mina: At least 717 people, including four Indians, were killed and over 860 injured in a stampede on Thursday during Haj here, in the second worst ever tragedy to hit the annual pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

The four Indians killed in the tragedy during the symbolic stoning of the devil, included a woman and a volunteer, Indian Consulate officials in Jeddah said. Two Indians were also injured.

The Saudi civil defence authority said 717 pilgrims from different nationalities were killed and 863 others were injured in the stampede that took place due to 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 (1130 IST).

The state-run Saudi Press Agency said the stampede occurred at the intersection of two streets leading to Jamarat, about five kilometres from Makkah.

Among the Indians killed was man from Kerala identified as Mohammed from Kodungaloor in Thrissur district, Kerala's Rural Development and Non Resident Keralite Affairs (NORKA) Minister K C Joseph said in Thiruvananthapuram.

The deceased had gone for the Haj through a privately- sponsored group, he said. A woman from the state was among those injured, he added.

A woman pilgrim from Hyderabad identified as Bibi Jaan was also killed in the stampede, said S A Shukoor, special officer of Telangana State Haj Committee.

Jaan had gone on the pilgrimage with her husband and two other relatives on September 2. She was caught up in the stampede and died at a hospital in Mina, he said.

Two Indians from Assam were among the injured and have been admitted to hospital.

This is the second worst tragedy to hit the Haj after 1990 when 1,426 pilgrims were killed in a stampede inside a tunnel leading to holy sites.

Indian Haj mission doctors were deployed in all government hospitals in Mina and Mecca.

PTI
 
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Mecca stampede: List of Indians injured | Zee News
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New Delhi: The Indian Hajj Mission on Friday released the list of Indians injured in the Mecca stampede, which killed at least 717 people and left over 700 seriously injured.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), death of at least 14 Indians have been confirmed so far and 13 are said to be critically injured.

The MEA has also released the list of Indians who have sustained injuries in the stampede and are being treated in hospitals there.

The government is closely monitoring the situation in Saudi Arabia and extending all possible help to Indians there.
"The Government is monitoring the situation in Mecca, we are trying to help the people in best possible way. We have also issued two toll-free numbers to assist people to know the whereabouts of their relatives in Mecca," he said.

"The numbers have been displayed at the Ministry of External Affairs and consulate websites," he added.

Naqvi further extended greetings on the eve of the Eid-ul-Zuha.

"I wish the festival brings and happiness and prosperity to all the countrymen," he added.
 
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Mecca stampede: Indian Hajj pilgrims toll rises to 22 | Zee News
Last Updated: Saturday, September 26, 2015 - 22:33

New Delhi: The number of Indian Haj pilgrims killed in the stampede near Makkah in Saudi Arabia has risen to 22, the government said on Saturday.

Many bodies from the over 700 people killed were yet to be identified.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted: "The number of Indian lives lost in Haj stampede has now risen to 22. Some more bodies are to be identified."

"We are facilitating visits of relatives of missing pilgrims and tour operators to the complex for identification," she said.

The toll till Friday was 14. On Saturday morning, the external affairs ministry had announced the deaths of four more Indian pilgrims, taking the toll to 18.

In a statement, external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said: "Our mission is working with Saudi authorities and family members to confirm the identities of the deceased and expedite the formalities for release of the mortal remains."

He said "officials on the ground have been working continuously to ascertain information and reach out to family members of missing pilgrims".

At least 717 people have been confirmed dead as of now in Thursday`s stampede, the worst tragedy to hit the world`s holiest Muslim pilgrimage in 25 years, while over 800 are injured. The incident took place on the first day of Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice.

IANS
 
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Indian Hajj volunteer, parents among 769 stampede victims | Zee News
Last Updated: Sunday, September 27, 2015 - 23:23

Mecca: A tragedy struck an Indian family when Niyazul Haq Mansoori, a volunteer serving Haj pilgrims, lost his life along with his parents during the grisly stampede at Mina.

An engineer by profession, Mansoori had come from Yanbu city in Saudi Arabia to join the 950-member volunteer team of India Fraternity Forum (IFF) to assist local authorities in the conduct of Hajj pilgrimage.

Mansoori was among the first Indian victims of the stampede to be identified while his parents -- Mansurul Haq and Nasima Khatoon -- were listed among the missing.

Both were identified today at the mortuary by their another son who arrived here from Yanbu following the tragedy that killed 769 people, the worst to hit the pilgrimage in 25 years.

The family had come from Jharkhand to perform Hajj.

Mansoori was a mechanical engineer at a private company in Yanbu, and he is survived by his wife and three daughters.

It was IFF volunteers who identified the body of Haq' wearing the jacket and ID of IFF, while they were assisting the security personnel and the rescue team in removing dead bodies from the stampede scene, and transfer the injured pilgrims to hospitals, Abdul Ghani, who is in charge of IFF's Hajj Service Operation, was quoted as saying by?Saudi Gazette.

"Mansoori, who joined our team in Mina at 2 am Thursday, was engaged in serving the pilgrims on Street 204 where the tragedy occurred as the heavy influx of pilgrims to and from between the Jamarat and the tents to perform the first day's ritual of stoning turned into overcrowding and ended up in a stampede," Ghani said.

He said Mansoori's body has been moved to the mortuary and necessary formalities for burial in Makkah are being processed by IFF members along with his younger brother.

Jasfar Muzhappilangad, another IFF volunteer, was one among those who were allowed to take part in the rescue operation immediately after the stampede.

"The security forces allowed the volunteers in their uniform to assist in rescue operation and hence we helped moving scores of dead bodies and helping to take the injured to nearby hospitals," he said.

PTI

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Mecca's worst Hajj tragedy in 25 years: Death toll of Indians in stampede rises to 35 | Zee News

New Delhi: With six more deaths being announced in the recent stampede, the toll of Indians from the worst Hajj tragedy in 25 years near the Saudi holy city of Mecca rose to 35 on Sunday.


External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj confirmed the news. On microbloging website Twitter Swaraj wrote: “Unfortunately, there are six more Indians taking the toll to 35.”


The six dead pilgrims include four from Gujarat and one each from Jharkhand and Bihar.

The names of the victims from Gujarat are: Mohamed Yunus Rahimbhai Mansuri, Bibi Ismail, Maherunnisha Hanif and Mohammed Yusuf Sikandarmiya Malik. The dead person from Bihar was Jaibun Nisha and from Jharkhand was Nashima Khatoon.

In another tweet Swaraj posted the link of a Facebook page of Governmnet of India's -Hajj Mission Indian Consulate Jeddah- giving details regarding the 'Control room for assistance to affected families from Mina stampede'.

Swaraj also said that the Indian embassy officials were providing all help to the bereaved families.

She further said that the Saudi authorities have released photos of 1,090 pilgrims who have died in the stampede.

In the morning today, the external affairs ministry announced seven more deaths from last Thursday's stampede near Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

The dead pilgrims included five from Kerala and one each from Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh.

The seven from Kerala were: Faaiz Abdul Muneer Veettil, Amina Beevi Mohammed Shafi Musaliar, Abdul Rahiman Asarithodi, Puthu Veettil Kunhimon and Moinuddin Abdul Kader. The dead from Uttar Pradesh was identified as Anvar Janha, and the one from Jharkhand as Mansurul Haque.

On Saturday, the government announced eight more deaths, and said with more bodies being identified from among the 769 deaths reported in Thursday's stampede, the toll could go up.

The eight dead reported on Saturday were: two pilgrims each from Kerala, Jharkhand and Gujarat, and one each from Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh.

Of the 14 dead reported on Friday, nine were from Gujarat, two each belonged to Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu, and one was from Maharashtra.

Meanwhile, under tight security reinforcements pilgrims in Saudi Arabia performed the final rituals of a Hajj marred by double tragedy, with the death toll from a stampede rising to 769.

The kingdom`s leaders have ordered an inquiry into the disaster -- the deadliest to strike the annual Muslim pilgrimage in a quarter-century -- and a "revision" of its organisation, with the deaths raising tensions with regional rival Iran as well.

Dozens of emergency workers were seen on one level of Jamarat Bridge, a five-storey structure in Mina where pilgrims ritually stone the devil, and on which hundreds of thousands were converging when Thursday`s stampede occurred nearby.

The disaster was the second deadly accident to mar the Hajj. A massive construction crane collapsed on the Grand Mosque in the nearby holy city of Mecca days beforehand, killing 109 people, many of them pilgrims.

(With Agency inputs)
 
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PM Modi condoles death of pilgrims in Hajj stampede tragedy | Zee News
Last Updated: Tuesday, September 29, 2015 - 00:26

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condoled the death of pilgrims in last week's grisly stampede at Mina, the worst tragedy to hit the annual pilgrimage in last 25 years.

"In connection with the Haj tragedy, PM had written to the Custodian of the 2 Holy Mosques on 25 Sept, expressing his deepest condolences," Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry Vikas Swarup tweeted.

As per Saudi authorities 769 people died in the stampede while around 930 pilgrims sustained injuries. Those killed in the stampede included 45 Indians.

The stampede broke out on September 24 after two massive lines of pilgrims converged on each other from different directions at an intersection close to the five-storey Jamarat Bridge in Mina for symbolic stoning of the devil.

It was the second major accident this year for pilgrims, after a construction crane collapsed on September 11 at Mecca's Grand Mosque, killing over 100 people, including 11 Indians.

Saudi Arabia has already ordered the formation of a committee to probe the deadly incident during the five-day pilgrimage in which around two million people from over 180 countries took part. From India, 1.5 lakh pilgrims performed Hajj.

PTI
 
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Death toll of Indians in Hajj stampede rises to 51 | Zee News

Mina: The number of Indians killed in the Haj stampede rose to 51 on Thursday as authorities identified six more bodies with 38 Indian pilgrims being treated for injuries in the worst tragedy in 25 years to hit the pilgrimage.

According to the Consulate General of India in Jeddah, 46 Indians had died until September 28. By October 1, the death toll climbed to 51.

Haj Consulate in Jeddah said the deceased included two pilgrims from Kerala, one each from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Bihar and Jammu and Kashmir.

Saudi Arabia has put the overall death toll at 769.

The number of injured in the tragedy stands at 934 while hundreds of people are still unaccounted for.

King Salman has ordered the formation of a committee to probe the deadly incident during the five-day pilgrimage in which around two million people from over 180 countries took part. From India, 1.5 lakh pilgrims performed Haj.

Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam that should be performed at least once in a lifetime by every Muslim who is financially and physically capable.

The stampede broke out after two massive lines of pilgrims converged on each other from different directions at an intersection close to the five-storey Jamarat Bridge in Mina for symbolic stoning of the devil.

It was the second major accident this year for pilgrims, after a construction crane collapsed on September 11 at Mecca's Grand Mosque, killing over 100 people, including 11 Indians.

PTI


First Published: Thursday, October 1, 2015 - 22:47
 
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pls explain me a reason for mass graves? why dont they return bodies to the home country?
 
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Mecca tragedy: Death toll of Indians in Hajj stampede rises to 58 | Zee News

Last Updated: Sunday, October 4, 2015 - 12:08
New Delhi: India has lost 58 nationals in the Hajj stampede in Saudia Arabia last month while 78 are still missing, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Sunday.

The Minister said the government was making every effort to locate its people.

"Haj stampede- We have lost 58 Indians. As many as 78 are missing. We are doing everything to locate our people," Swaraj tweeted.

According to Saudi authorities, 769 Muslim pilgrims were killed in a stampede at the annual Haj near the holy city of Mecca on September 24. According to reports, tallies of the dead from foreign officials and media put the toll at 1,036.

The stampede broke out after two massive lines of pilgrims converged on each other from different directions at an intersection close to the five-storey Jamarat Bridge in Mina for symbolic stoning of the devil.

It was the second major accident this year for pilgrims, after a construction crane collapsed on September 11 at Mecca's Grand Mosque, killing over 100 people, including 11 Indians.

PTI
 
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