Indian woman killed in Haj stampede

An official of the Telangana State Haj Committee told IANS that the deceased had been identified as Bibi Jaan, a resident of Ranga Reddy district near Hyderabad.

Over 700 people have been injured in the stampede which occurred days after a massive crane collapse in Mecca Grand Mosque killed 115 people, including 11 Indians.

Hailing from Mansoorabad in Ranga Reddy, she had gone for the pilgrimage along with her husband Abdul Majeed and two other family members.

Bibi Jan Bibi Jan, who was on her maiden pilgrimage to Mecca along with her husband Abdul Majeed and two other relatives, received fatal injuries in the stampede and was rushed to hospital where she was declared brought dead.

Officials said that 5451 persons – 2963 from Telangana, 1819 from Andhra Pradesh, and 654 from Raichur, Bidar and Gulburga of Karnataka – have gone from Hyderabad to perform Haj this year.

“My father-in-law, his brother and his wife also fell down in the stampede, but they managed to get up quickly and escaped with minor injuries, ” he said. However, the Haj Committee is in touch with the Consulate General of India at Jeddah to confirm whether there are more causalities, he added. S.A.Shukoor, all Khadim-ul- Hujjaj have been put on alert and have been directed to report the status of all pilgrims by visiting all the camps. The helplines will work round-the-clock.

Haj Committees of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh said that this is the only confirmed death case.

The Haj Committee of India has also set up a 24×7 control room with telephone numbers 022 – 2271 7100 / 2271 7101 / 2271 7102.

Telangana Chief Minister, K Chandrasekhar Rao has expressed his condolences to the victims of stampede in Mecca Thursday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday condoled the loss of lives due to a horrific Haj stampede in Saudi Arabia. More than 1.5 lakh Indians are among over two million pilgrims performing Haj in Mecca this year.