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.
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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Over two million pilgrims, including more than 1.5 lakh Indians, are performing the Hajj this year.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
4 Indians among those killed in Mecca stampede, say Indian Consulate officials in Jeddah.
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.
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
Around 4,000 people are reportedly taking part in rescue efforts, along with 220 ambulances.