Live updates: Stampede at Mecca kills 717, including 1 Indian; at least 21 Indians among 719 injured

Death toll at Saudi Haj stampede rises to 717, at least 805 others injured according to Saudi Civil Defence, Reuters reported.

One Indian dead in hajj stampede at Mecca

CNN IBN reported saying 60-year-old Bibi Jan from Hyderabad was killed in the Mecca stampede on Thursday. 

One Indian dead in hajj stampede at Mecca

CNN IBN reported saying 60-year-old Bibi Jan from Hyderabad was killed in the Mecca stampede on Thursday. 

PM Modi tweets, says news from Mecca distressing.

PM Modi tweets, says news from Mecca distressing.

The death toll has risen to 453, Reuters reported. The report added that the number of injured is now 719. According to TV channels, the number of Indians injured in the stampede has also gone up to 21. 

The injured have been evacuated to four different hospitals in the Mina region, Al Jazeera quoted a civil defence spokesman as saying.  Mina is where pilgrims carry out a symbolic stoning of the devil by throwing pebbles against three stone walls. It also houses more than 160,000 tents where pilgrims spend the night during the pilgrimage.

The death toll has risen to 453, Reuters reported. The report added that the number of injured is now 719. According to TV channels, the number of Indians injured in the stampede has also gone up to 21. 

The injured have been evacuated to four different hospitals in the Mina region, Al Jazeera quoted a civil defence spokesman as saying.  Mina is where pilgrims carry out a symbolic stoning of the devil by throwing pebbles against three stone walls. It also houses more than 160,000 tents where pilgrims spend the night during the pilgrimage.

BJP leader Naqvi reacts to hajj stampede

BJP leader Naqvi reacts to hajj stampede

Emergency contact numbers are:

Emergency contact numbers are:

NC’s Omar Abdullah mourns deaths in Hajj tragedy

Srinagar: National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Thursday mourned the death of more than 200 Haj pilgrims in a stampede in Saudi Arabia.

 “Tragic news coming out of Mecca,” the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister tweeted. “Prayers with the injured and with the loved ones of the deceased.”

IANS

NC’s Omar Abdullah mourns deaths in Hajj tragedy

Srinagar: National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Thursday mourned the death of more than 200 Haj pilgrims in a stampede in Saudi Arabia.

 “Tragic news coming out of Mecca,” the former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister tweeted. “Prayers with the injured and with the loved ones of the deceased.”

IANS

MEA issues statement on Twitter

“We cannot rule out Indian casualties at this point of time; Our doctors are deployed in all government hospitals in Mina, Mecca.”

MEA issues statement on Twitter

“We cannot rule out Indian casualties at this point of time; Our doctors are deployed in all government hospitals in Mina, Mecca.”

 Tragedy strikes Hajj again. More details from the incident

Thursday’s ritual was taking place at a five-storey structure known as the Jamarat Bridge, which cost more than $1 billion (£0.66 billion) to build, and which was used during earlier pilgrimages.  Almost one kilometre (less than a mile) long, it resembles a parking garage and allows 300,000 pilgrims an hour to carry out the ritual.  

The faithful had gathered until dawn Thursday at nearby Muzdalifah where they chose their pebbles and stored them in empty water bottles.  They had spent a day of prayer Wednesday on a vast Saudi plain and Mount Arafat, a rocky hill about 10 kilometres (six miles) from Mina, for the peak of the hajj pilgrimage.  It was not immediately clear if the stoning ritual at Mina would continue as planned until Saturday after the stampede.  

The ritual emulates the Prophet Abraham, who is said to have stoned the devil at three locations when he tried to dissuade Abraham from God’s order to sacrifice his son Ishmael.  At the last moment, God spares the boy, sending a sheep to be sacrificed in his place.  

The world’s Muslims commemorated Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son by slaughtering cows, sheep and other animals on Thursday.

AFP

 Tragedy strikes Hajj again. More details from the incident

Thursday’s ritual was taking place at a five-storey structure known as the Jamarat Bridge, which cost more than $1 billion (£0.66 billion) to build, and which was used during earlier pilgrimages.  Almost one kilometre (less than a mile) long, it resembles a parking garage and allows 300,000 pilgrims an hour to carry out the ritual.  

The faithful had gathered until dawn Thursday at nearby Muzdalifah where they chose their pebbles and stored them in empty water bottles.  They had spent a day of prayer Wednesday on a vast Saudi plain and Mount Arafat, a rocky hill about 10 kilometres (six miles) from Mina, for the peak of the hajj pilgrimage.  It was not immediately clear if the stoning ritual at Mina would continue as planned until Saturday after the stampede.  

The ritual emulates the Prophet Abraham, who is said to have stoned the devil at three locations when he tried to dissuade Abraham from God’s order to sacrifice his son Ishmael.  At the last moment, God spares the boy, sending a sheep to be sacrificed in his place.  

The world’s Muslims commemorated Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son by slaughtering cows, sheep and other animals on Thursday.

AFP

Total number of pilgrims this year was 1.95 million

The Saudi press agency said today that the the total number of pilgrims for this year’s hajj was 1.95 million, which included 1.38 million foreigners.

Total number of pilgrims this year was 1.95 million

The Saudi press agency said today that the the total number of pilgrims for this year’s hajj was 1.95 million, which included 1.38 million foreigners.

Indian injured in Haj stampede, reports IANS

An Indian is among the over 400 people injured in a Haj stampede in Saudi Arabia that left at least 310 people dead, Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said. The minister told reporters here that according to reports received so far, no Keralite was injured or dead. But one person from Lakshadweep was among the injured. About 136,000 Indians are taking part in the Haj pilgrimage.

Indian injured in Haj stampede, reports IANS

An Indian is among the over 400 people injured in a Haj stampede in Saudi Arabia that left at least 310 people dead, Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said. The minister told reporters here that according to reports received so far, no Keralite was injured or dead. But one person from Lakshadweep was among the injured. About 136,000 Indians are taking part in the Haj pilgrimage.

Death toll rises to 310  

The death toll continues to rise. It now stands at 310, according to Saudi civil defence.

Death toll rises to 310  

The death toll continues to rise. It now stands at 310, according to Saudi civil defence.

Deadliest Hajj incident was in 1990

The deadliest incident occurred in 1990, when a stampede in an overcrowded pedestrian tunnel leading to Mecca’s holy sites saw 1,426 people die, according to the news agency.

Deadliest Hajj incident was in 1990

The deadliest incident occurred in 1990, when a stampede in an overcrowded pedestrian tunnel leading to Mecca’s holy sites saw 1,426 people die, according to the news agency.

The stampede occurred on Street 204 in Mina.  

Street 204 is one of the two main arteries leading through the camp to Jamarat, where pilgrims ritually stone the devil by hurling pebbles.

The stampede occurred on Street 204 in Mina.  

Street 204 is one of the two main arteries leading through the camp to Jamarat, where pilgrims ritually stone the devil by hurling pebbles.

 At least 220 people were killed and hundreds injured in a stampede

The crush happened in Mina, a large valley about five kilometers (three miles) from the holy city of Mecca. Mina houses more than 160,000 tents where pilgrims spend the night during the pilgrimage.

 At least 220 people were killed and hundreds injured in a stampede

The crush happened in Mina, a large valley about five kilometers (three miles) from the holy city of Mecca. Mina houses more than 160,000 tents where pilgrims spend the night during the pilgrimage.

Horrific aftermath video of the stampede in Mecca. 

WARNING: Contains graphic images.

Horrific aftermath video of the stampede in Mecca. 

WARNING: Contains graphic images.

Here is a list of the other tragedies that have taken place at Mecca

2015: At least 150 people are killed and 400 injured in a stampede in Mina, on the outskirts of the holy city of Mecca. In the lead-up to hajj, at least 107 people are killed and scores wounded when a crane collapses in bad weather, crashing onto the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Islam’s holiest site.

___

2006: More than 360 pilgrims are killed in a stampede at the desert plain of Mina, near Mecca, where pilgrims carry out a symbolic stoning of the devil by throwing pebbles against three stone walls. The day before the hajj began, an eight-story building being used as a hostel near the Grand Mosque in Mecca collapsed, killing at least 73 people.

___

2004: A crush of pilgrims at Mina kills 244 pilgrims and injures hundreds on the final day of the hajj ceremonies.

___

2001: A stampede at Mina during the final day of the pilgrimage ceremonies kills 35 hajj pilgrims.

___

1998: About 180 pilgrims are trampled to death in panic after several of them fell off an overpass during the final stoning ritual at Mina.

___

1997: At least 340 pilgrims are killed in a fire at the tent city of Mina as the blaze was aided by high winds. More than 1,500 were injured.

___

1994: Some 270 pilgrims are killed in a stampede during the stoning ritual at Mina.

___

1990: The worst hajj-related tragedy claims the lives of 1,426 pilgrims in a stampede in an overcrowded pedestrian tunnel leading to holy sites in Mecca.

AP

Here is a list of the other tragedies that have taken place at Mecca

2015: At least 150 people are killed and 400 injured in a stampede in Mina, on the outskirts of the holy city of Mecca. In the lead-up to hajj, at least 107 people are killed and scores wounded when a crane collapses in bad weather, crashing onto the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Islam’s holiest site.

___

2006: More than 360 pilgrims are killed in a stampede at the desert plain of Mina, near Mecca, where pilgrims carry out a symbolic stoning of the devil by throwing pebbles against three stone walls. The day before the hajj began, an eight-story building being used as a hostel near the Grand Mosque in Mecca collapsed, killing at least 73 people.

___

2004: A crush of pilgrims at Mina kills 244 pilgrims and injures hundreds on the final day of the hajj ceremonies.

___

2001: A stampede at Mina during the final day of the pilgrimage ceremonies kills 35 hajj pilgrims.

___

1998: About 180 pilgrims are trampled to death in panic after several of them fell off an overpass during the final stoning ritual at Mina.

___

1997: At least 340 pilgrims are killed in a fire at the tent city of Mina as the blaze was aided by high winds. More than 1,500 were injured.

___

1994: Some 270 pilgrims are killed in a stampede during the stoning ritual at Mina.

___

1990: The worst hajj-related tragedy claims the lives of 1,426 pilgrims in a stampede in an overcrowded pedestrian tunnel leading to holy sites in Mecca.

AP

The Saudi civil defense directorate said at least 450 other pilgrims were injured in the stampede.

Photos released by the directorate on its official Twitter account showed rescue workers in orange and yellow vests helping the wounded onto stretchers and loading them onto ambulances near some of the white tents.

Some 2 million people are taking part in this year’s hajj pilgrimage, which began Tuesday.

The Saudi civil defense directorate said at least 450 other pilgrims were injured in the stampede.

Photos released by the directorate on its official Twitter account showed rescue workers in orange and yellow vests helping the wounded onto stretchers and loading them onto ambulances near some of the white tents.

Some 2 million people are taking part in this year’s hajj pilgrimage, which began Tuesday.

Hajjis are uploading videos and pictures from Mecca showing rows and rows of dead lying on the ground. 

Hajjis are uploading videos and pictures from Mecca showing rows and rows of dead lying on the ground.