RIYADH, Saudi Arabia: A stampede broke out in Mina outside the Saudi Arabia’s holy city of Makkah during annual Hajj pilgrimage rituals on Thursday which resulted in the deaths of at least 717 Hujjaj, according to the Saudi civil defence.
The Saudi civil defence said that 805 Hujjah were also injured when the incident occurred while the pilgrims were stoning the satan (devil) at Jamarat that is called Rammi.
ارتفاع عدد الإصابات في #منى إلى ٨٠٥ إصابة والوفيات إلى ٧١٧ حالة وفاة.
— الدفاع المدني (@KSA_998) September 24, 2015
The media reports quoting the Director-General (DG) Hajj said that 36 Pakistanis were also martyred while 27 further injured in the tragic incident.
Meanwhile, Pakistani Hajj Mission in Mina has released an emergency helpline number to get information about Pakistani pilgrims. Its number is 00966125277537.
List of Pakistani dead so far in the incident Mina stampede
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Manzoorul Haq has said that Makkah hospitals are being checked to know about well-being of Pakistani pilgrims.
The stampede took place near Maktib Number 93 where mostly Algerian pilgrims are staying.
The dead bodies and injured pilgrims were being shifted to various hospitals in Mina where an emergency had been declared.
It was the second unfortunate incident which happened in Saudi Arabia during the Hajj 2015. Earlier this month, at least 107 people including Pakistani were martyred while more than 200 were injured when a crane fell on Hajj pilgrims in Makkah’s Grand Mosque.
A total of 2.5 million people including 1,43,000 Pakistanis are performing Hajj rituals in Saudi Arabia this year.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan’s Foreign office has said that the information regarding the incident and well-being of Pakistani Hujjaj are being collected. It said that the Pakistani Embassy in Riyadh is in touch with Saudi Authorities in this regard.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has expressed condolence over the tragic incident in the tent city in Mina.
The prime minister has directed the ministry of Hajj and foreign affairs to remain in contact with the Saudi authorities for the well-being of Pakistani Hujjaj in Mina.
The stampede took place as the Hujjaj gathered in Mina today after performing waqoof in Maidan-e-Arafat and spending night in open sky at Muzdalifa.
The Hujjaj were now busy in sacrificing of animals and taking part in the stoning of the devil, last major rite of the Hajj pilgrimage.
