Crane accident in Makkah claims several lives, hundreds injured

[Hindustani78]

Haj stampede: VK Singh heads to Saudi for helping Indian nationals - The Hindu
The Minister of State will coordinate with the local authorities and strengthen the efforts of Consul General there.
Minister of State for External Affairs V. K. Singh is being rushed to Saudi Arabia to coordinate with the authorities there to trace missing Indians in the Haj stampede last month.

Mr. Singh has been asked by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to leave tonight after Saudi government informed India that it will be interacting with individual countries regarding their nationals - both dead or missing.

The Minister of State will coordinate with the local authorities and strengthen the efforts of Consul General there. The Minister tweeted:

Yesterday, Ms. Swaraj had tweeted that India has lost 58 nationals in the stampede while 78 were still missing. The Minister said the government was making every effort to locate its people.

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. As per 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 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.

 

[Hindustani78]

Haj stampede: Death toll of Indians rises to 81 | Zee News

New Delhi: The death toll of Indians in the Haj stampede has risen to 81 even as scores of nationals are still missing after the last month's tragedy, worst to hit the annual pilgrimage in 25 years.

Noting that Minister of State for External Affairs V K Singh was in Saudi Arabia for the identification process of the missing Indians by the Saudi authorities, MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said seven more Indian have been identified among the deceased in the Haj stampede taking the toll to 81.

"The minister sought the intervention of the Saudi Health Minister to find the identities of all the Indian pilgrims. He also conveyed that several missing cases were still pending with the Indian mission and it can only be resolved after the identification process is complete. Singh has been assured of all support and assistance by the Saudi minister," he said.

The Spokesperson did not give the number of missing Indians in the tragedy, saying it was not possible given the current situation where many of them were now identified as deceased.

The Haj stampede on September 24 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.

 

[Hindustani78]

Hajj stampede: Death toll of Indians rises to 114 | Zee News

New Delhi: The death toll of Indians in the Hajj stampede has risen to 114 even as 10 nationals still remain missing after the last month's horrific tragedy, one of the worst to hit the annual pilgrimage.

"Haj stampede -- Unfortunately, Indian toll is now 114 with 10 missing," External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on twitter on Sunday.

Minister of State for External Affairs VK Singh was in Saudi Arabia last week for the identification process of the missing Indians by the Saudi authorities.

According to media reports, over 1,000 people have been killed in the stampede at Mina.

The Hajj stampede on September 24 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 Hajj pilgrims after a construction crane collapsed on September 11 at Mecca's Grand Mosque, killing over 100 people, including 11 Indians.

PTI