Death Toll of Indians in Mecca Stampede Rises to 22: MEA

MEA: death toll of Indians in Mecca stampede rises to 22 and is expected to rise as few bodies remain unidentified.

The death toll of Indians in the worst Mecca tragedy in 25 years has risen to 22, Union Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj tweeted.

The number of Indian lives lost in Haj stampede has now risen to 22. Some more bodies are to be identified.

— Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) September 26, 2015

Out of the total death toll of 717 in the incident, 18 were known to be Indians. The incident took place on Street 204 of the camp city at Mina, a few kilometres east of Mecca, where pilgrims stay for several days during the climax of the Hajj.

The MEA has provided emergency contact numbers for Indians affected by the tragedy.

Our emergency Nos in Makkah continue to remain open: 00966125458000 00966125496000 Toll free number for pilgrims in Kingdom: 8002477786

— Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 24, 2015

The ministry is also facilitating visits of relatives of missing pilgrims and tour operators to the complex in Jeddah for identification as few dead bodies remain unidentified.