Saudi struggles with stampede aftermath as Haj ends

Emergency services attend to victims crushed in a crowd in Mina, Saudi Arabia.
Emergency services attend to victims crushed in a crowd in Mina, Saudi Arabia.

Mina, Saudi Arabia - India's government raised its estimated death toll for Indian citizens from 14 to 18, while Pakistan raised its estimated death toll from eight to 11.



By AP

Published: Sat 26 Sep 2015, 2:00 PM

Last updated: Sat 26 Sep 2015, 4:57 PM

As the Haj religious pilgrims entered its final day on Saturday, officials in Saudi Arabia continued to grapple with the aftermath of a deadly stampede that killed at least 719 people.
India's government raised its estimated death toll for Indian citizens from 14 to 18, while Pakistan raised its estimated death toll from eight to 11.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said on Saturday in a press statement that his government was "working with Saudi authorities and family members" to confirm the identities of the deceased and expedite formalities for release of the bodies.
Meanwhile Iran, whose citizens comprised the largest number of fatalities confirmed so far, announced in a state TV broadcast that among those Iranians still missing are Ghazanfar Roknabadi, a former ambassador to Lebanon, as well as two Iranian state TV reporters and a prominent political analyst. According to the TV report, 134 Iranian pilgrims died and 85 were injured in the Thursday incident, while 354 Iranian pilgrims remain missing.
 


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