PM condoles death of pilgrims in Haj stampede tragedy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condoled the death of pilgrims in last week's grisly stampede at Mina, the worst tragedy to hit the annual pilgrimage in last 25 years.
"In connection with the Haj tragedy, PM had written to the Custodian of the 2 Holy Mosques on 25 Sept, expressing his deepest condolences," Spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry Vikas Swarup tweeted.
As per Saudi authorities 769 people died in the stampede while around 930 pilgrims sustained injuries. Those killed in the stampede included 45 Indians.
The stampede broke out on September 24 after two massive lines of pilgrims converged on each other from different directions at an intersection close to the five-storey Jamarat Bridge in Mina for symbolic stoning of the devil.

It was the second major accident this year for pilgrims, after a construction crane collapsed on September 11 at Mecca's Grand Mosque, killing over 100 people, including 11 Indians.
Saudi Arabia has already ordered the formation of a committee to probe the deadly incident during the five-day pilgrimage in which around two million people from over 180 countries took part. From India, 1.5 lakh pilgrims performed Haj.