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(Recast) 14 Indian pilgrims killed in stampede in Saudi Arabia

Xinhua, September 25, 2015 Adjust font size:

India on Friday said that 14 of its nationals were killed and 13 others injured in Thursday's stampede in Mina near the Saudi city of Mecca that claimed 717 lives.

"Our consul general Jeddah reports loss of 14 Indian lives in stampede. We have 13 injured in hospital," Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted.

"The exact number will be known after confirmation by Saudi authorities."

Among the Indians killed, nine were from the western state of Gujarat, two each from the eastern state of Jharkhand and southern state of Tamil Nadu and one from the western state of Maharashtra.

More than 100,000 Indian pilgrims are among the 2 million people performing the annual Haj in the Muslim holy city of Mecca this year.

This is the second disaster at Mecca this month after over 100 people were killed on Sept. 12 when a construction crane crashed on the Grand Mosque. Endi