Hajj stampede in Mecca: As it happened on Thursday

At least 717 pilgrims were killed and 719 others were injured today in a stampede at Mina, outside the Muslim holy city of Mecca, in Saudi Arabia.

• Deeply pained at the loss of lives during Haj pilgrimage in Mina near Mecca. My condolences to the families of those who died in the incident, tweets Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
• Our Embassy officials have reported that the process of identification of bodies is on. This will take at least 24 hours. After this Saudi authorities will disclose their identity with photographs, tweets EAM Sushma Swaraj

• As per latest update four Indians have been killed in the tragedy during the symbolic stoning of the devil, included a woman and a volunteer, Indian Consulate officials in Jeddah said, PTI reported.
• Very sad two learn the death of some of Indians, two from Hyderabad. I convey my heartfelt condolences to their family members. May their soul RIP: Naidu
• Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu confirms death of two Indian nationals at Saudi Arabia stampede tragedy.
• Two Indian officials have reached the site of the accident near Makkah
• Extremely sad to learn of the stampede in Mecca. My deepest condolences to the families who lost loved ones in this tragic incident: Congress VP Rahul Gandhi
• President Pranab Mukherjee has offered condolences to government of Saudi Arabia over stampede tragedy.

Deeply saddened by tragic incident at Mina today, during which a large number of haj pilgrims lost their lives #PresidentMukherjee

— President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) September 24, 2015

My sincere condolences to Govt of Saudi Arabia & families of the deceased pilgrims; also wish speedy recovery to injured #PresidentMukherjee

— President of India (@RashtrapatiBhvn) September 24, 2015

• Saudi crown prince has ordered to form investigative committee to probe stampede, states Al Arabiya English.
• Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed has also expressed profound grief over the tragedy in Mecca.
• We will provide all help to Indian nationals. Two of our officials have reached the site of accident. We are in constant touch with them: Sushma Swaraj

We will provide all help to Indian nationals.Two of our officials have reached the site of accident. We are in constant touch with them.

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) September 24, 2015

• Congress president Sonia Gandhi while expressing shock over the tragedy prayed for the well being of the Haj pilgrims and hoped that Indian citizens in Mina were safe.
• I got a call informing that my aunt Bibijan was killed in the stampede in Mecca: Karimullah, a Hyderabad resident told ANI.
• The death toll from stampede has now reached 717, Reuters stated.
• One Indian woman dead as per a media report.
• Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pays condolence to the families of the deceased.

Distressing news from Mecca. Pained at loss of lives due to the stampede. Condolences to families of the deceased & prayers with the injured

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 24, 2015

• At least 453 pilgrims were killed and 719 others were injured today in a stampede at Mina, outside the Muslim holy city of Mecca, in Saudi Arabia. 

• Over 2,700 people died in the past 25 years, with the latest stampede today leaving 310 people dead. At least 631 others were injured in the crush, which occurred when two large groups of pilgrims arrived together at a crossroads on Street 204 at the camp city at Mina, the Saudi civil defence said. ​
• The death toll in a crush of people at the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia has risen to 310, says Saudi Arabia`s civil defence service. "The counting (of the victims) continues and the number of dead has reached 310 people of different nationalities."
• The Indian consulate has issued a helpline number - 00966125458000. Officials at the Indian Consulate in Jeddah, meanwhile, add that so far they have no information about any Indian casualty.

Our Mission in Jeddah continuously monitoring situation in Makkah following tragic stampede. No confirmed casualties at this point of time.

— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 24, 2015

Our emergency Nos in Makkah continue to remain open: 00966125458000 00966125496000 Toll free number for pilgrims in Kingdom: 8002477786

— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 24, 2015

• Figures released today by the official Saudi Press Agency say 1,952,817 pilgrims had performed this year`s hajj, including almost 1.4 million foreigners.
• It is not immediately clear if the stoning ritual at Mina would continue as planned until Saturday after the stampede.
• Today's ritual was taking place at a five-storey structure known as the Jamarat Bridge, which cost more than USD 1 billion to build, and which was used during earlier pilgrimages. Almost one kilometre (less than a mile) long, it resembles a parking garage and allows 300,000 pilgrims an hour to carry out the ritual.
• One Indian pilgrim has been injured in the incident. Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala tells reporters in Thiruvananthapuram that a Hajj pilgrim from Lakshadweep was among the injured. About 136,000 Indians are taking part in the hajj pilgrimage.
• Over 220 ambulances and 4,000 rescue workers have been sent to the stampede`s location to help the wounded. Saudi-owned Al-Arabiya television channel is showing a convoy of ambulances driving through the Mina camp. 
• The death toll from a crush of pilgrims today during the annual Muslim hajj in Saudi Arabia has risen to 220, the Saudi civil defence said. It said that 450 other people had been injured in the crush caused by large numbers of people pushing at Mina.
• The last major incident in hajj took place in 2006, when at least 346 pilgrims were killed as they attempted to perform the stoning of the devil at Jamarat. 
• The pilgrimage, the world`s largest annual gathering of people, has been the scene of deadly stampedes in the past, as well as other disasters including tent fires and riots. 
• Photographs published on the civil defence Twitter feed show pilgrims lying on stretchers.
• Street 204 is one of the two main arteries leading through the camp at Mina to Jamarat, where pilgrims ritually stone the devil by hurling pebbles at three large pillars. 
• The incident occurred at Street 204 of the camp city at Mina, a few kilometres east of Mecca, where pilgrims stay for several days during the climax of the hajj. 
• The hajj is among the five pillars of Islam and every capable Muslim must perform it at least once in a lifetime. For many, it is the spiritual peak of their lives.
• Earlier this month, a construction crane collapse at Mecca`s Grand Mosque, Islam`s holiest site, had killed 109 people, including 11 Indians. About 400 people were injured by the crane which was working on an expansion of the mosque.
• Work is underway to separate large groups of people and direct pilgrims to alternative routes, says the Saudi Civil Defence on its Twitter account.
• The mishap occurred when hundreds of thousands of pilgrims were taking part in the last major rite of the Hajj, which is to perform stoning of the devil. The symbolic stoning of the devil today coincides with the Eid al-Adha, the Feast of Sacrifice, the most important holiday of the Islamic calendar. It has traditionally been the most dangerous day of Hajj because vast numbers of pilgrims attempt to perform rituals at the same time in a single location.​
• In an unfortunate incident, at least 150 pilgrims died and 390 others got injured on Thursday when a stampede broke out in Mina, outside the Muslim holy city of Mecca, during Hajj.