MINA: At least 310 people were killed and 450 others injured today in a stampede during the Haj at Mina, near the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, one of the worst incidents in nearly a decade to hit the annual pilgrimage.
Over two million pilgrims, including more than 1.5 lakh Indians, are performing the Haj this year.
Officials at the Indian Consulate in Jeddah have said so far they have no information about any Indian casualty.
The Saudi civil defence authority said 310 people from different nationalities have died in the tragedy.
Rescue operations were underway after the stampede in Mina, where pilgrims were performing the symbolic stoning of the devil by throwing stones at the three pillars.
Eyewitnesses said the stampede happened at the entrance of the Jamarat bridge near Street 204, not inside of the area where the stoning pillars are.
Two teams of medical screening have been set up at the site of the incident. It was not clear what had caused the stampede.
“In my camp there were about 400 pilgrims. All of them are safe. But I am trying to make some calls and ascertain from other people,” said Abid Rasool Khan, Chairman Minorities Panel, Andhra Pradesh. (AGENCIES)
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