At least 47 Pakistani pilgrims injured in Makkah crane accident: FO

Published September 12, 2015
A towering construction crane toppled over on Friday during a violent rainstorm in Makkah, Islam's holiest site, crashing into the Grand Mosque, ahead of the start of the annual Haj pilgrimage later this month. — AP
A towering construction crane toppled over on Friday during a violent rainstorm in Makkah, Islam's holiest site, crashing into the Grand Mosque, ahead of the start of the annual Haj pilgrimage later this month. — AP

ISLAMABAD: At least 47 Pakistanis were injured in the crane accident in Makkah's Grand Mosque, which resulted in the deaths of at least 107 pilgrims on Friday.

Foreign Office (FO) spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said that out of the 47 injured, 26 Pakistanis were still admitted in three hospitals near Makkah, while others were discharged after necessary medical treatment. None of the Pakistanis in hospitals are said to be in serious conditions.

Details of Pakistani pilgrims receiving medical treatment in the hospital- Courtesy: MORA
Details of Pakistani pilgrims receiving medical treatment in the hospital- Courtesy: MORA

Some 25 pilgrims who had sustained minor injuries were given first aid at the spot, he said.

The spokesman said there was no news so far of any Pakistani having died in the accident, while none of the injured was in critical condition either.

Earlier in the day, Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Yousaf told Radio Pakistan that around 50 Pakistani pilgrims were injured in the accident and seven of them were in critical condition.

He said about 25 Pakistani pilgrims were discharged after being provided with medical aid, while the rest were under treatment in various hospitals.

Pakistanis wishing to know about their loved ones' condition or any other information regarding the incident can contact Pakistan’s Embassy in Saudi Arabia on these numbers: 00966580734001 or 00966504517632.

President, PM express grief over incident

President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in their separate statements prayed for the departed souls and sympathised with the bereaved families.

Moreover, the prime minister has directed Pakistan's Ambassador in Saudi Arabia to provide every possible help to the injured and personally visit every Pakistani patient in hospitals on his behalf.

107 pilgrims reported dead

The pilgrims died when a massive construction crane crashed into Makkah's Grand Mosque during stormy weather Friday, killing at least 107 people and injuring 238, Saudi authorities said, less than a fortnight before the Haj pilgrimage starts.

According to the Saudi civil defence authority around 238 people were injured in the incident and they were being treated in nearby hospitals.

The incident occurred as hundreds of thousands of Muslims gather from all over the world for the annual Haj pilgrimage set to begin later this month.

SPA said that almost 800,000 pilgrims had arrived by Friday for the Haj, which all able-bodied Muslims are expected to perform if they have the means to do so. Last year, just over two million people took part.

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