Indian pilgrims confirmed dead among at least 717 others in Mecca stampede

Videos posted online showed dead bodies strewn across a street in Mina, a dusty encampment outside Islam’s holiest city, as other pilgrims sat in shock. Khaled al-Falih also told reporters the number of injured had risen to 934.

Earlier on Thursday, accusing Saudi Arabia of safety errors, the head of Iran’s Hajj organisation, Said Ohadi, said that for “unknown reasons” two paths had been closed off near the scene of the symbolic stoning of the devil ritual where the accident later took place.

It is also the second disaster to strike in two weeks, after a crane collapsed at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, killing 109 people. It has been barred from taking on new projects in the kingdom pending an investigation.

Saudi King Salman said he had ordered a review of the kingdom’s plans for the annual haj pilgrimage. He’s behind Interior Minister Prince Mohammed, whose Civil Defence Directorate is responsible for providing security during the pilgrimage.

The crush occurred as groups of pilgrims suddenly converged on the crossroads in Mina, state-run Saudi Press Agency reported.

“The problem is in the culture of pilgrims, who are not organized or patient”, he said.

Saudi Health Minister Khalid al-Falih suggested the blame didn’t lie with official preparations.

He said Saudi authorities blocked a road used by hajj pilgrims to allow a royal convoy to pass through, causing the deadly convergence in the town of Mina on the outskirts of Mecca. He said that from his perspective, this year’s hajj went smoothly and that Saudi officials appeared to be doing all they could to safely manage the pilgrimage.

The Saudi civil defence service reported on Twitter that a fire had occurred in three storage facilities in Mecca’s al-Maaseem neighbourhood, and 10 fire and rescue units were in attendance.

“As for the things that humans cannot control, you are not blamed for them”.

The stampede, in which 717 pilgrims died, has been labelled is the worst disaster in a quarter of a century. “This massive pushing is what caused the high number of casualties among the pilgrims”. “A stampede is often the result of a minor infraction or accident that quickly spirals out of control”.

The stampede “was perhaps because some pilgrims moved without following instructions by the relevant authorities”, the minister said in a statement.

While confirming the latest death toll, Ministry of External Affairs on Saturday said India’s officials at ground were continuously working to ascertain the information and reach to the family members of missing pilgrims. Mecca has been the site of hajj stampedes in years past.

Saudi Arabia has not responded to the Iranian accusations regarding the convoy.

“This is not a situation with which to play politics”, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir said Saturday.

Muslim pilgrims threw pebbles at walls during the ritual “stoning of the devil” as part of the annual haj pilgrimage on Friday.

Whereas many other nations have so far reacted to the tragedy with a more diplomatic and conciliatory tone, Iran, a bitter rival, has blasted Saudi Arabia.

“The incident shows mismanagement and lack of serious attention to the safety of pilgrims”. If mistakes were made, who made them will be held accountable.