Saudi Stampede: Nigerian, Indian, Other Officials Put Death Toll At Over 1000

Posted by African Examiner Asia, Featured, Latest Headlines, World News Tuesday, September 29th, 2015

BALTIMORE, MD (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – The death toll of last Thursday stampede near Mecca, during the year’s annual Hajj pilgrimage has been put at over 1000 by the officials from different countries.

Nigerian, Indian, Pakistani and Indonesian officials have confirmed that over 1000 bodies have been deposited to the morgues.

A Nigerian Hajj official from Kano, Alhaji Abba Yakubu, confirmed that he had been to Jeddah, visited the scene of the crush as well as saw where the dead were being processed. Yakubu added not less than 14 Lorries were loaded with dead bodies from the scene to the city.

He further stated that a total of 1,075 bodies had been offloaded from 10 Lorries and deposited in the morgues, while another four Lorries were still waiting to be offloaded.

Despite this, the Saudi authorities have maintained that 769 casualties were recorded in the disaster.

Still, a tweet by Indian Foreign Minister, Sushma Swaraj indicated that Saudi authorities had released photos of 1,090 pilgrims who died. However, a Saudi Interior Minister Spokesman clarified that the number included 109 pilgrims who died over two weeks ago at the Grand Mosque when a crane collapsed September 11, as well as other deaths at the just concluded pilgrimage.

Many countries, including Iran which lost not less 228 in the accident, have expressed reservation, contending the disaster was avoidable.

Meanwhile, the Saudi’s most Senior Cleric, Grand Mufti Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin-Abdullah al-Sheikh, has said the stampede was accidental and “beyond human control”.

Similarly, King Salman has directed a safety review into the disaster.