Off the wire
• Indian president to make first visit to Israel later this month  • Spotlight: Int'l community condemns deadly air raid on Afghan hospital, investigation under way to ensure accountability  • 3 unidentified assailants responsible for murder of Japanese national in Bangladesh  • Kobiashvili appointed new president of Georgian Football Federation  • Interview: UN General Assembly president pledges to push for early implementation of new UN development agenda  • 121 Philippine fishermen remain missing due to Tropical Storm Mujigae  • Atletico Mineiro cut gap at top of Brazil's Serie A  • Roundup: China contributes to Haiti's reconstruction after natural disasters  • Protesters in Vienna voice support for Europe-bound refugees  • China on high alert for typhoon Mujigae  
You are here: 　 Home

Death toll of Indians in Mecca stampede rises to 58

Xinhua, October 4, 2015 Adjust font size:

The death toll of Indians in the recent stampede near the Saudi Arabian holy city of Mecca has now risen to 58 while some 78 Indian pilgrims are still missing.

"Haj Stampede -- We have lost 58 Indians. As many as 78 are missing. We are doing everything to locate our people," Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted late Saturday evening.

Some 769 Muslim pilgrims were killed and over 900 injured in the stampede in Mina near Mecca, according to Saudi Arabia, though unofficial figures estimate the number of deaths at 1,200.

The tragedy happened on Sept. 24 when an overcrowding situation caused hundreds of people to suffocate to death during the annual Haj pilgrimage in Mina. Endi