Saudi Arabia government also released photos of pilgrims who died in Mecca and their bodies preserved in mortuaries for identification. Gen. Mansour al-Turki told The Associated Press Tuesday the pictures given to diplomats also include people who died of natural causes.
Advertisement
RIYADH, September 26 (Xinhua) – The death toll in Thursday’s stampede in Mina, neighboring the holy city Mecca, has risen to 769, Saudi Health Minister Khalid al-Falih said on Saturday.
He said a few Pakistani pilgrims who lost their lives in Mina were buried in Saudi Arabia.
No fewer than 64 Nigerian pilgrims have been confirmed dead, while 71 were injured and 244 declared missing in Saudi Arabia following last Thursday’s stampede, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has said.
The death of such a large number of pilgrims has raised concern about the capability of the Saudi regime in administering the affairs of the Grand Mosque.
Iranians have staged daily protests near the Saudi Embassy in Tehran, and President Hassan Rouhani devoted a significant part of his speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Monday to blaming Saudi authorities for the disaster and demanding it be “fully investigated”.
The developments reflect Iran’s intentions to keep up pressure on Saudi Arabia in the aftermath of the stampede.
Bauchi-Days after the completion of this year’s Hajj, the state Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board has said it was still searching for the whereabouts of five of its pilgrims.
Speaking at a graduation ceremony for Navy officers, Khamenei accused Saudi officials of “slyness”, warning that if they do not return Iranian victims, they will face a harsh retaliation.
Pakistan’s Supreme Court meanwhile said it received a citizen’s petition asking it to open an investigation into the hajj disaster.
The Saudi authorities have declared that no fewer than 749 pilgrims died; 805 others were injured.
Advertisement
Every year, about two millions Hindu pilgrims and tourists gather at Varanasi’s ghat to bathe on the banks of the sacred river Ganges. Scores of pilgrims are also injured whiles several others are reportedly unaccounted for.
