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The Saudi health minister Khalid Aal-Falih, said in a statement that the stampede may have been caused by “some pilgrims who did not follow the guidelines and instructions issued by the responsible authorities”.

However, the protests and the tensions show deep friction between the Sunni kingdom and the Shiite powerhouse.

Saudi Arabia’s civil defense directorate said the crush happened at around 9 a.m. local time (2 a.m. ET) after there was a “sudden rise” in the number of pilgrims traveling along a major road leading to the site of a stone-throwing ritual. Another stampede at...

DFAT advised people who were concerned for the welfare of family and friends in Mecca to first try to contact their loved ones directly. “You go forward and suddenly you go back”.

Saudi Arabia has rolled out a special metro train service for this year’s Haj season that will allow almost 3,70,000 pilgrims to travel daily from Mecca to Arafat and help reduce traffic congestion.

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.

Addressing a joint press conference of the commanders of security forces taking part in Haj in Mina on Tuesday, Al-Shuwairekh said that the authorities have started legal action against 70 bogus offices engaged in cheating pilgrims.

A report on the incident will be submitted to him this Friday, 18 September, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The hotel’s guests are among close to two million Muslims from around the world expected for the Hajj, which begins officially on Tuesday.

Sukoor said two of the injured were discharged from the hospital while the third one is still hospitalised but his condition is stated to be stable.

The relatives of the deceased would be sent for Haj from Hyderabad, the release added. They were Abdul Khader (38) and his wife Fatima Begum (32).

Makkah: Emergency officials in Saudi Arabia say more than 1,000 pilgrims were safely evacuated from a hotel in Makkah during a fire there ahead of the Haj.

This year’s pilgrimage is expected to start around September 22, but Al Sudais told the wounded that, God willing, they would be spiritually rewarded for their intention to perform the hajj if they are physically unable to make the actual pilgrimage.

Officials on Saturday reported that Masnauli Hasibuan, who left for Mecca from Medan, North Sumatra, and Siti Rasmi Darmini, from Karawang, West Java, died in the incident.

Saudi authorities said on Saturday that Haj pilgrimage will go ahead despite a crane collapse that killed 107 people at holy city of Makkah’s Grand Mosque, where crowds returned to pray a day after the tragedy.