India issues helpline numbers for Mecca Haj tragedy

New Delhi: India on Saturday released helpline numbers for the crane crash tragedy in Saudi Arabia's Mecca.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Vikas Swarup, this morning tweeted the helpline numbers.

The 24X7 helpline numbers to reach the Indian mission in Saudi Arabia are:

00966125458000

00966125496000

A toll-free number for pilgrims in the Saudi Kingdom has also been set up. It is:

8002477786

#Update from Makkah. Our 24*7 Mission helpline no: 00966125458000 00966125496000 Toll free number for pilgrims in Kingdom: 8002477786 — Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 12, 2015

At least 107 people died, including two Indians, when a massive construction crane crashed into Mecca's Grand Mosque, just days before the annual haj pilgrimage. Scores others, incuding 15 Indians, were also injured.

The civil defence agency said on Twitter that emergency teams were sent to the scene after a "crane fell at the Grand Mosque," one of Islam's most revered sites.

That came about an hour after it tweeted that Mecca was "witnessing medium to heavy rains," and pictures on social media showed lightning.

Ahmed bin Mohammad al-Mansoori, spokesman for the two holy mosques, was quoted by the official Saudi Press Agency as saying part of a crane collapsed at 5:10 pm (local time) "as a result of strong winds and heavy rains."

(With agency inputs)