Mecca stampede Live: Nearly 717 Haj pilgrims killed in Mina, 863 injured [ Photos+Video]
-
September 24, 2015
At least 717 Haj pilgrims were reported killed and nearly 863 others injured in a stampede in Mina in Makkah province in western Saudi Arabia on Thursday morning where two million pigrims from across the world have gathered for the annual Haj pilgrimage.
According to alocal report, the incident took place around 5 am (local time) as thousands of Haj pilgrims rushed through the Street 204 in Mina to participate in the ‘stoning of the devil’ ritual in Jamarat.
Jamarat is carried out on Eid al-Adha or the Feast of Sacrifice, and it symbolises the rejection of sin and temptation.
The stampede took place at the Street 204 in Mina, which is one of the two main roads that leads to camp Jamarat, where pilgrims ritually stone the devil by hurling pebbles. The pilgrims were allowed to continue towards the Jamrat complex for ‘stoning of the devil’ ritual after the civil defences forces cleared the bodies and took away the injured.
[Find out what led to the deadly stampede – Read]
Most of those crushed to death in the stampede were elderly. Local broadcaster Al Arabiya reported citing Saudi civil defence that the situation has been brought under control.
As per the latest figures, the death toll stood at 717, while 863 others were injured. Authorities feared that the death toll may increase,Saudi civil defence reported. The stampede is the second deadliest at the Haj since 1990, when 1,426 people killed.
The injured have been rushed to General hospital Mina, Noor and Al-Watani Hospital Jeddah, while the officials are moving the bodies out of Mina. An emergency has been declared at all the hospitals in Makkah. Most of those killed and injured were pilgrims from Algeria, it isreported.
Unconfirmed reports suggested that 13 Indians were among those killed. A report from Kerala confirmed that one person, identified as Mohammad, a resident of Ernakulam district was killed and another Indian national, Sakeeb, a resident of Kottayam was injured.
Over1.5 lakh Indians are among the Haj pilgrims from across the world who are in Makkah for the pilgrimage.
Emergency helpline numbers for Indians in Mecca for Haj 2015 :
00966125458000
00966125496000Toll free number for pilgrims in Saudi Arabia:
8002477786
Emergency number for information on Pakistani haj pilgrims– +9661252777537
Videos released in the aftermath of the stampede show torn clothes and blood on the streets of Mina. Images show Saudi civil defence forces removing the bodies from the streets covered in white shrouds.
The spot of the incident is situated 5 km to the east of Mecca, and stands on the road to the Hill of Arafat.
In recent days, there has been a spate of incidents in Mecca, where over 2 million Muslim pilgrims have gathered for the annual Haj pilgrimage.
On Wednesday (23 September), over200 pilgrims had fainted and suffered fatigue after they got trapped inside a train after its door malfunctioned. The pilgrims remained trapped inside the train for over 30 minutes.
On 11 September, over 100 pilgrims of various nationalities were killed when a huge crane crashed at the Grand Mosque in Mecca.
SOURCE:
http://www.ibtimes.co.in/mecca-stampede-100-reportedly-killed-390-injured-mina-647857
Categories: Arab World, Asia, Islam, Saudi Arabia
Inna lillahe wa inna alaehe rajeoon. We all are from Allah and to Him we all return…
WE hope the Saudi Arabia Government take more concrete steps to avoid these recurring stampedes in the valley of Mina,the stone throwing valley.It is so deadly ,dreadful incident.It is heart aching for all humans. May god grant patience to those affected.
Hajj is necessary only once in life time. Some law should be made to restrict those who go for Hajj again and again. It is clear that Saudi Government is unable to manage the matter and Hajis (pilgrims) are not well educated in their manners, every time there is some fire or other serious incident.
The Saudi government is trying to provide facilities but is unable to manage in a good way.
The number of people who can perform hajj each year should be restricted. The holy places for hajj are in a small area and there is only so many people who can be accommodated. Stampede and death is of course shocking and gets the attention of the people. But a closer look will show that a large number of pilgrims are poor. Either they cannot afford an accommodation or there is not enough rooms available. They sleep on the streets around the Sacred mosque and any other place they can find under the sun. Bathroom facility is not enough. They are filthy and a health hazard. Transportation is also an issue.
The limitation of space and facility should be carefully considered and the number of pilgrims restricted.
That will make sense if people stop believing that dying during the hajj gives automatic ticket to the …Muslim’s … paradise with all its ‘bliss’.