14 Indians dead in Hajj stampede, 13 injured

Over 800 pilgrims were injured in the disaster that took place on the first day of Eid al-Adha, or the Feast of the Sacrifice

The number of Indian casualties has gone up to 14 in the Hajj stampede in Saudi Arabia that claimed 717 lives and left over 800 injured, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has said.

"Our consul general Jeddah reports loss of 14 Indian lives in stampede," the minister said in a tweet. She added that "we have 13 injured in hospital."

"The exact number will be known after confirmation by Saudi authorities," she further said.

Indian volunteers have reached Makkah to help local authorities.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj tweeted that "Indian volunteers have reached in large numbers and are assisting the local authorities" at Makkah.

She said "Our embassy officials have reported that the process of identification of bodies is on. This will take at least 24 hours."

"After this Saudi authorities will disclose their identity with photographs."

She also said that two Indian officials have reached the site at Makkah to aid Indian pilgrims.

The second biggest tragedy to hit the annual pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia took place yesterday at 9 a.m local time (1130 IST) due to a sudden surge in the number of pilgrims heading to Jamarat for symbolic stoning of the devil by throwing pebbles against three stone walls.

Authorities had yesterday said that four Indians, including a woman and a volunteer, were killed in the stampede which occurred at the intersection of two streets leading to Jamarat, about five kilometres from Makkah.

This is the second worst tragedy to hit the Haj after 1990, when 1,426 pilgrims were killed in a stampede inside a tunnel leading to holy sites.

Meanwhile, reports in Jeddah said that 13 Indians are missing following the tragedy.