Haj stampede: 14 Indians among 700 killed

NEW DELHI: Amid reports of fourteen Indians, including Mohammed from Kerala and Bibijan from Hyderabad, being killed at the Mecca stampede, Haj Committee of India CEO Ataur Rahman told TOI that any such information would be confirmed only on Friday. Rahman said the stampede spot was far away from the Indian pilgrims' camp and the number of casualties and injured was likely to be very low. "Our staff is engaged in identifying the bodies at the mortuary. We are verifying the information about injuries to Indian pilgrims," Rahman said. Around 1 lakh Indians have travelled to Mecca this year through the Haj committee while 36,000 have gone through private tour operators. At least 13 Indians were injured among more than 800 being treated for wounds in Saudi hospitals, reported news agencies until late on Thursday. Bibi Jan, 60, from Ranga Reddy district near Hyderabad died in the crush, while the second death was of Malappuram native Abdurahman, 51, in Kerala. Initial reports said two more Malayalis died in Mina on Thursday. Sources said Kaniyankandy Aboobacker Haji from Thalassery and Kochikkaran Vadakeveettil Mohammed, 66, of Kodungallur, both of whom were adjacent to the stampede area, died following cardiac arrest on learning of the incident.