Mina, Feb 01: At least 244 people have been trampled to death at the Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. Two Indians are apparently among those who have died. The stampede took place at the Jamarat Bridge in Mina during a ritual where pilgrims throw pebbles at a pillar representing the devil.
As rescuers went to the scene, security officials tried to control the huge crowds to prevent more injuries.
Around two million pilgrims have gathered for this year's Haj.

This is not the first time such a tragedy has happened.
Last year, 14 people were trampled to death at the same stoning ritual. In 2001, 35 people died in a stampede and in 1998, 180 pilgrims died again during the stoning ritual.
But the worst Haj disaster was in 1990 when over 1400 people died during a stampede in a tunnel leading to Mecca's Grand Mosque.
The devil stoning is described as the Haj's most dangerous ritual as pilgrims throw rocks, shout insults or hurl shoes at the pillars - acts that are supposed to demonstrate their deep disdain for the devil.
Despite the disaster, the last important rite of the pilgrimage continued today. Bureau Report