NEW DELHI: With six more bodies being identified, the number of Indians killed in one of the worst stampede during Haj in Saudi Arabia has risen to 35.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, in a tweet, confirmed the latest figure. “Unfortunately, there are six more Indians taking the toll to 35,” Swaraj said as she has been regularly giving updates. In her earlier update during the day, the Minister had put the figure at 29.
“Saudi authorities have released photos of 1,090 pilgrims who have died in Haj stampede...Our embassy officials are providing all help to the families,” Swaraj said in a series of tweets on Sunday evening.
The Indian embassy in Saudi Arabia has deputed two teams to help Indians identify the dead, while another control room has been set up to assist the families of the victims. The six more people who have been identified include four from Gujarat and one each from Jharkhand and Bihar. The names of the victims from Gujarat are: Mohamed Yunus Rahimbhai Mansuri, Bibi Ismail, Maherunnisha Hanif and Mohammed Yusuf Sikandarmiya Malik. The dead person from Bihar was Jaibun Nisha and Nashima Khatoon from Jharkhand.
The seven more persons who were identified since Saturday included five from Kerala and one each from Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. The seven from Kerala were: Faaiz Abdul Muneer Veettil, Amina Beevi Mohammed Shafi Musaliar, Abdul Rahiman Asarithodi, Puthu Veettil Kunhimon and Moinuddin Abdul Kader.