The death toll of Indian pilgrims in last week's horrific stampede during Haj on Sunday rose to 35 as authorities identified six more bodies.
"Unfortunately, there are six more Indians taking the toll to 35," External Affiars Minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday tweeted. She also tweeted the emergency numbers for Indians in Mecca.
Earlier, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, "Our officials on the ground in Mecca have been working continuously to ascertain information and reach out to family members of missing pilgrims."
King Salman has ordered the formation of a committee to probe the deadly incident during the five-day pilgrimage in which around two million people from over 180 countries took part. From India, 1.5 lakh pilgrims performed Haj. Haj is one of the five pillars of Islam that should be performed at least once in a lifetime by every Muslim who is financially and physically capable.
The stampede broke out after two massive lines of pilgrims converged on each other from different directions at an intersection close to the five-storey Jamarat Bridge in Mina for symbolic stoning of the devil. It was the second major accident this year for pilgrims, after a construction crane collapsed on September 11 at Mecca's Grand Mosque, killing over 100 people, including 11 Indians.
Emergency numbers in Mecca:
00966125458000
00966125496000
Toll free number for pilgrims in Saudi Arabia : 8002477786
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