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4 Indians out of 717 killed in Mecca stampede; Sushma Swaraj says officials in the process of identification
Over two million pilgrims, including more than 1.5 lakh Indians, are performing the Hajj this year.
Updated : Sep 25, 2015, 12:19 AM IST
 "AFP Mecca Stampede")
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At least 717 people were killed and 800 others injured on Thursday in a stampede during the Hajj 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 Hajj this year. Officials at the Indian Consulate in Jeddah have said so far they have no information about any Indian casualty.
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 agency inputs
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- 24 Sep 2015, 11:41 PM
Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said the Saudi Arabian government should accept responsibility for stampede in the Muslim holy city of Mecca on Thursday.
"The Saudi government should accept the responsibility of this sorrowful incident ... Mismanagement and improper actions have caused this catastrophe," Khamenei said in a statement published on his website.
- 24 Sep 2015, 08:45 PM
Iran accused Saudi Arabia of safety errors after at least 43 of its citizens died on Thursday in a stampede that killed several hundred pilgrims during the annual hajj ceremonies.
Read our full report here: Tehran accuses Saudi of safety errors after deadly Mecca stampede
- 24 Sep 2015, 09:00 PM
President Pranab Mukherjee in his message to King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, said, "I am deeply saddened by the tragic incident at Mina today, during which a large number of Haj pilgrims lost their lives and several others suffered injuries. On behalf of the Government and the people of India and on my own behalf, I express my sincere condolences to the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and to the families of the deceased pilgrims," he said.
- 24 Sep 2015, 11:26 PM
Saudi King Salman said he had ordered a review of the kingdom's plans for the annual haj pilgrimage after more than 700 died in a crush outside the Muslim holy city of Mecca on Thursday.
King Salman, speaking in a live speech broadcast by Saudi-owned al-Arabiya television, also said he had asked for a swift investigation into what he described as a painful incident.
- 24 Sep 2015, 11:10 PM
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted that the Embassy officials are in the process of identification of bodies which will take at least 24 hours. The identities will be disclosed with photographs.
Indian volunteers have reached in large number and are assisting the local authorities.
— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) September 24, 2015 - 24 Sep 2015, 11:00 PM
The White House offered condolences to the victims of the stampede.
"The United States expresses its deepest condolences to the families of the hundreds of Hajj pilgrims killed and hundreds more injured in the heartbreaking stampede in Mina, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As Muslims around the world continue to celebrate Eid al-Adha, we join you in mourning the tragic loss of these faithful pilgrims," said National Security Council spokesman Ned Price.
- 24 Sep 2015, 10:55 PM
4 Indians among those killed in Mecca stampede, say Indian Consulate officials in Jeddah.
- 24 Sep 2015, 08:30 PM
Addressing a media conference, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said that there are no official reports about any Indian casualties in the Mecca stampede.
"There are unconfirmed reports of 3 Indians, that also through relatives. No official word yet," said Swarup.
- 24 Sep 2015, 08:11 PM
Hyderabad resident, Karimullah, on Thursday claimed that his aunt had died in the stampede during Haj pilgrimage, which has so far left over 700 people dead.
I got a call informing that my aunt Bibijan was killed in the stampede in Mecca-Karimullah,Hyderabad resident pic.twitter.com/zGz3qaehz0
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 24, 2015 - 24 Sep 2015, 06:15 PM
Two Indians have been hurt in the Mecca stampede on Thursday, according to reports. More than 1.5 lakh Indians are among over two million pilgrims performing Haj in Mecca this year.
Read our full report on this here: Two Indians injured, over 700 pilgrims dead
- 24 Sep 2015, 06:10 PM
Jammu Kashmir CM Mufti Mohammed Sayeed and former CM Omar Abdullah expressed profound grief over the tragedy in Mecca which left over 450 pilgrims dead and several hundred others injured.
CM Sayeed expressed profound grief over the tragedy in Mecca which left over 450 pilgrims dead and several hundred others injured. Omar took to Twitter to share his condolences.
Tragic news coming out of #Mecca. Prayers with the injured & with the loved ones of the deceased.
— Omar Abdullah (@abdullah_omar) September 24, 2015Read our full report on this here- Mecca stampede: Mufti Sayeed and Omar Abdullah express grief over loss of lives
- 24 Sep 2015, 05:00 PM
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently in US, expressed condolences to the victims and their kin.
Distressing news from Mecca. Pained at loss of lives due to the stampede. Condolences to families of the deceased & prayers with the injured
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 24, 2015 - 24 Sep 2015, 04:35 PM
The Ministry of External Affairs has released helpline numbers regarding the stampede situation in Mecca.
Our emergency Nos in Makkah continue to remain open: 00966125458000 00966125496000.Toll free number for pilgrims in Kingdom: 8002477786-MEA
— ANI (@ANI_news) September 24, 2015 - 24 Sep 2015, 04:00 PM
Around 4,000 people are reportedly taking part in rescue efforts, along with 220 ambulances.
- 24 Sep 2015, 04:09 PM
Watch the video of the stampede here. Viewers discretion advised:
Graphics Warring: Another heart wrenching live footage sent by by a friend from #Mecca #تدافع_مشعر_مني #MinaStampede pic.twitter.com/ABanX8O4rO
— سید فیاض علی #TeamIK (@IamTeamIK) September 24, 2015 - 24 Sep 2015, 03:40 PM
#UPDATES: #Hajstampede: Death toll rises to 310, 450 injured in #Mecca #BreakingNews http://t.co/f4HRpvPpCD pic.twitter.com/iegKizoWwp
— New Straits Times (@NST_Online) September 24, 2015Timeline of disasters and tragedies which have struck Mecca from the year of 1990 to 2015. #Hajj2015 #Hajj #RIP pic.twitter.com/PKdgz1AQfX
— Khabir (@KhabirM) September 24, 2015 - 24 Sep 2015, 03:32 PM
MEA still trying to get information about this tragic stampede. So far no confirmed casualty
Our Mission in Jeddah continuously monitoring situation in Makkah following tragic stampede. No confirmed casualties at this point of time.
— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 24, 2015
