NEW DELHI: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Saturday has confirmed that the number of Indian lives lost in Haj stampede has now risen to 22 and some more bodies are yet to be identified.
“We are facilitating visits of relatives of missing pilgrims and tour operators to the complex for identification, “EAM Sushma Swaraj tweeted.
Earlier , the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Vikas Swarup had said that 18 Indian pilgrims have been confirmed dead so far in the Mecca stampede during the Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
At least 717 people have been reported dead and 863 injured so far in the stampede that took place in Mina on Thursday when worshippers symbolically threw rocks at the devil .