Death toll of Indians in Haj stampede rises to 58
As many as 78 are missing: MEA
New Delhi: India has lost 58 nationals in theHaj stampede in Saudia Arabia last month while 78 are still missing, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said on Sunday.
The Minister said the government was making every effort to locate its people. "Haj stampede- We have lost 58 Indians. As many as 78 are missing. We are doing everything to locate our people," Swaraj tweeted.
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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. According to 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 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.