One Ghanaian dead in Mina stampede

GHP -- One Ghanaian was killed in the stampede during the symbolic stoning ritual on the final day of the Haj on Thursday in the Saudi holy city of Mina.

He has not yet been identified.

Muslim pilgrims, eager to get close to a pillar symbolising the devil triggered the latest in a string of tragedies to have befallen the annual Hagg pilgrimage in recent years.

As hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from 160 countries surged forward on a bridge at Mina, near the holy city of Mecca, to hurl pebbles at the pillar, at least 38 people -- including 23 women -- were killed in the stampede.

Witnesses said some overzealous pilgrims tried to push their way towards the pillar. Pilgrims near it struggled to stay on their feet, but a number of old men and women fell. Many were crushed while others suffocated.

Earlier, the Saudi Interior Ministry said that the dead included 44 Indians , 37 Pakistanis, 18 Saudis, 12 Bangladeshis, 10 Egyptians, seven Yemenis, six each from Sudan, Maldives and Turkey, five each from Algeria and Afghanistan, four Moroccans, three Iraqis, two each from Oman, Iran, Syria and China, and one each from Jordan, Ethiopia, Germany, Chad, Belgium, Palestine, Turkistan and Nigeria.

Saudi authorities identified 203 dead pilgrims through their bracelets and with the help of their relatives. They included 118 men and 85 women.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Sultan said the incident was caused by Haj pilgrims carrying a lot of baggage while going to perform the stoning ritual.

He expressed his deep sorrow over the casualties caused by the tragedy and conveyed the government's condolences to the bereaved families.

"What happened was that more than 12 people carrying a large quantity of baggage on their back fell on the ground one on top of the other as a result of overcrowding," he said.

Meanwhile, stricken families were hunting for their loved ones yesterday at hospitals in Makkah and Mina.

GHP -- One Ghanaian was killed in the stampede during the symbolic stoning ritual on the final day of the Haj on Thursday in the Saudi holy city of Mina.

He has not yet been identified.

Muslim pilgrims, eager to get close to a pillar symbolising the devil triggered the latest in a string of tragedies to have befallen the annual Hagg pilgrimage in recent years.

As hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from 160 countries surged forward on a bridge at Mina, near the holy city of Mecca, to hurl pebbles at the pillar, at least 38 people -- including 23 women -- were killed in the stampede.

Witnesses said some overzealous pilgrims tried to push their way towards the pillar. Pilgrims near it struggled to stay on their feet, but a number of old men and women fell. Many were crushed while others suffocated.

Earlier, the Saudi Interior Ministry said that the dead included 44 Indians , 37 Pakistanis, 18 Saudis, 12 Bangladeshis, 10 Egyptians, seven Yemenis, six each from Sudan, Maldives and Turkey, five each from Algeria and Afghanistan, four Moroccans, three Iraqis, two each from Oman, Iran, Syria and China, and one each from Jordan, Ethiopia, Germany, Chad, Belgium, Palestine, Turkistan and Nigeria.

Saudi authorities identified 203 dead pilgrims through their bracelets and with the help of their relatives. They included 118 men and 85 women.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Sultan said the incident was caused by Haj pilgrims carrying a lot of baggage while going to perform the stoning ritual.

He expressed his deep sorrow over the casualties caused by the tragedy and conveyed the government's condolences to the bereaved families.

"What happened was that more than 12 people carrying a large quantity of baggage on their back fell on the ground one on top of the other as a result of overcrowding," he said.

Meanwhile, stricken families were hunting for their loved ones yesterday at hospitals in Makkah and Mina.