Another Haj tragedy: 220 dead in stampede at Mecca

Earlier this month a construction crane collapse had killed 109 people

GN Bureau | September 24, 2015


#haj   #mecca   #Saudi Arabia   #muslim  

In an unfortunate incident, at least 220 pilgrims died and 400 others injured on Thursday when a stampede broke out in Mina, outside the Muslim holy city of Mecca, during Haj.

Rescue operations are underway, Saudi Arabia's civil defence service said on Twitter.

The mishap occurred when hundreds of thousands of pilgrims were taking part in the last major rite of the haj, which is to perform stoning of the devil. The symbolic stoning of the devil today coincides with the Eid al-Adha feast of sacrifice marked by the world's more than 1.5 billion Muslims.

Saudi officials said a total of 13,74,206 foreign pilgrims have arrived for Haj this year.  The Saudi government has deployed nearly 100,000 men in uniform at the holy sites.

Every year, millions of Muslims converge on the Saudi holy cities of Mecca and Medina for the annual haj pilgrimage, with the massive ceremonies representing a major security and logistical challenge for the kingdom's authorities.

The haj is among the five pillars of Islam and every capable Muslim must perform it at least once in a lifetime. For many, it is the spiritual peak of their lives.

Earlier this month, a construction crane collapse at Mecca's Grand Mosque, Islam's holiest site, had killed 109 people, including 11 Indians. About 400 people were injured by the crane which was working on an expansion of the mosque.

Comments

 

Other News

Who checks the books?

I read about the news about the Coimbatore library over coffee this morning. On the face of it, the headline was about a political ‘war’ between the DMK and TVK. But what stayed with me was something much more important than the blame game behind what had transpired. A writer walking through

Development paradox: Falling poverty miracle and an inequality problem

India’s reduction in poverty over the past decade is a development achievement of considerable significance. The World Bank’s April 2026 ‘India Development Update’ estimates that the share of Indians living below the international extreme-poverty line of $3.00 per person per day i

In Arunachal, a river we call mother

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Siang is not just a river. For many of us, especially the Adi people, it is part of our family. Our grandparents fished in it. Children learned to swim in it. Our farms drink from it. When someone says a huge dam will be built on it, we do not hear the word "project".

A new retelling of the Mahabharata delves into key moments

In a time when every decision carries consequences and questions of ambition, power, loyalty, identity and moral choice continue to shape our lives, Dr. Arun Krishnan’s new book, ‘Mahakshana’ (Penguin India) offers a strikingly relevant retelling of the Mahabharata.  

Cabinet approves viability gap funding to develop grid-scale energy storage systems

The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has approved the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for Development of Grid-Scale Energy Storage Systems, with a total financial support of Rs.14,500 crore for the period FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31. The scheme aims to support the development o

Cabinet creates a pathway to absorb Agniveers in Defence Forces

An objective assessment in terms of organisational requirements and operational efficiency has brought out the outstanding performance of Agniveers in terms of skills, motivation levels, physical fitness and technological prowess. As envisaged earlier, based on merit, 25% of Agniveers will be offered reg

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter