JEDDAH: Seven hundred and seventeen Haj (Hajj) pilgrims were killed and around 800 were injured on Thursday in a stampede aroud Mecca (Makkah), in Saudi Arabia, in the worst disaster to strike the holy city of the Muslims in 25 years. Among them, there are 14 Indians killed and 26 injured, sources in the Haj Committee of India told India Travel Times. Details were awaited. The tragedy occurred outside Mecca at Mina, when streams of pilgrims moved to perform the 'stoning of the devil' ritual at Jamarat.
(14 Indians among Haj pilgrims killed in Mecca stampede)
SEE: LATEST list of Indian Haj pilgrims dead, injured or missing in Mina-Mecca stampede (as of Oct 1, 2015)
Pilgrims were seen lying on stretchers and moved into ambulances and tended by emergency workers in jackets. There were scenes of men in white Haj (Hajj) garments lying on top of one another. More than 220 ambulances and 4,000 rescue workers were deployed to help the victims. Helicopters also were used to evacuate the crowds.
The identified among the dead are: Iran: 131, India: 14, Pakistan: 6, Indonesia: 3.
The disaster took place at Street 204, one of two main thoroughfares from Mina to Jamarat. Jamarat is the place where pilgrims ritually stone the devil by throwing stones at three pillars located there.
As 131 Iranians were among the dead, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said Saudi Arabia was responsible for the disaster. Tehran summoned the Saudi envoy to lodge an official complaint.
During Hajj, pilgrims move to Mina, a large valley about 5 km from Mecca, to throw seven stones at the pillars called Jamarat. Jamarat represents the devil. This is the place where Satan is said to have tempted Prophet Abraham. The stempede occurred at 09:00 local time (06:00 GMT) when huge numbers of the pilgrims walked to Jamarat. There is a five-storey structure surrounding the pillars. It is called Jamarat Bridge.
The Haj is the world's one of the largest annual gatherings of people. It has witnessed several tragedies in the past of fires, stampedes, riots and other mishaps. In the last fortnight alone this year there were three incidents: Over 100 people died when a crane crashed on the Grand Mosque in Mecca; two hotel fires were also reported. In 2006, 346 pilgrims died in a stampede at Jamarat. In July 1990, 1,426 pilgrims died in a tunnel near Mecca (Makkah) on Eid Al-Adha (Feast of the Sacrifice) and the day of the stoning ritual.
Saudi Arabia's crown prince, Mohamed bin Nayef, who chairs the Saudi Hajj committee, has ordered an investigation.
SEE: LATEST list of Indian Haj pilgrims dead, injured or missing in Mina-Mecca stampede (as of Oct 1, 2015)
Haj Committee's first list of Indians killed or injured in Mecca stampede
14 Indians among Haj pilgrims killed in Mecca stampede
Helpline for Indian nationals on Haj stampede in Mecca
