M A I N   N E W S

2 Indian women among 36 killed in Haj stampede

Mina (Saudi Arabia), March 5
Thirtysix Haj pilgrims, including two Indian women, were crushed to death in a stampede during the “Stoning of Satan” ritual today near the holy city of Mecca, state-run Saudi television reported.

It said the deceased, including 23 women, died as a huge crowd rushed towards one of the three giant pillars representing the devil in the Mina Valley near the birthplace of the Prophet Mohammad in Mecca.

Consul-General of India in Jeddah Syed Akbaruddin said from Mecca that two women — Jamila B. Sheikh (5) and Shabnoor Bi (62), hailing from Jalgaon in Maharashtra, were crushed to death in the stampade.

It was the first such deadly incident at the Haj since 1998, when at least 118 pilgrims died and more than 180 were injured in a stampede on the third day of the stoning ritual at Mina. AFP