HYDERABAD: Two women pilgrims from the city were among the hundreds of victims killed in the ghastly stampede that occurred in the holy city of Mecca on Thursday.
The victims have been identified as Bibi Jan (60) wife of Abdul Majeed and a resident of LT Nagar in Hyderabad and Sabahat Tasleem(50), wife of Mohammed Ghouse and a resident of Ghazi e Millat Colony in Chandrayangutta. The Telangana Haj House sources confirmed the death of both the pilgrims.
Bibi Jan, who was on her maiden pilgrimage to Mecca along with her husband Abdul Majeed and two other relatives, received fatal injuries in the stampede and was rushed to hospital where she was declared brought dead.
Sabahat Tasleem had gone on pilgrimage with her husband and two relatives on September 15, and had completed the Haj on Wednesday. She was proceeding to take part in the “stoning the devil” ritual, when the stampede occurred. She was taken to a health care facility where she succumbed to injuries.
Mahboob Ali, son-in-law of the victim told Express that Abdul Majeed and Bibi Jan were returning to their tent after performing the ritual of ‘stoning the devil’, when they were caught in the stampede. The other three are safe, he added. Though Bibi Jan’s daughter requested the state government to bring her body to Hyderabad, the officials said it was not possible in such short notice.
The Telangana State Haj Committee stated that the family members of the victim have agreed to cremate her in Mecca. Due to Visa problems, none of her four children would be able to proceed to Mecca and attend her funeral, said Prof S A Shukoor, special officer of Telangana Haj Committee.
This year, around 5,041 pilgrims from the states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka had departed for Mecca from the Hyderabad Haj Embarkation point. Out of them, 2,978 are from Telangana, 1,819 from AP and 654 from Karnataka.
“So far no reports of any other pilgrim receiving severe injuries,” Shukoor told Express. However, the Haj Committee is in touch with the Consulate General of India at Jeddah to confirm whether there are more causalities, he added.
The State Haj committee has on Thursday set up a help line number, 040-23214125 to share information regarding the pilgrims. Relatives of those pilgrims can use this service to know the whereabouts of their kin.
KCR Expresses Condolence
Telangana Chief Minister, K Chandrasekhar Rao has expressed his condolences to the victims of stampede in Mecca Thursday. In a press release, the CM wished a speedy recovery for those who were injured in the incident. He also directed the Minority Welfare secretary, Omar Jaleel to ensure that all Haj pilgrims from Telangana are safe. He sought information regarding all the pilgrims who left to Mecca from Hyderabad. As per the CM’s directions, the State Haj Committee also alerted the Haj volunteers at Mecca.