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Four Lankans die in Mecca tragedy

by Mohammed Rasooldeen in Riyadh

Four Sri Lankans were among the 251 pilgrims who were trampled to death on Sunday while participating in the 'stoning the devil' ritual in a valley near Mecca, Saudi Arabia. One Sri Lankan is reported missing.

Minister of Muslim Religious Affairs Rauff Hakeem has ordered officials who are leading the Sri Lankan delegation to take steps to trace the missing and to arrange the final rites of the deceased according to Muslim rituals.

The stampede broke out Sunday morning on the Jamarat bridge during the stoning ritual at Mina, five kilometres from Mecca.

The four deceased Lankans were Mohamed Madani from Colombo (Kara Travels), Amir Ali and Abdul Aziz from Sammanthurai (Ummul Qura Haj group) and Riayz Mohamed, local pilgrim from Mecca. Zainul Abdeen from Maho (Hidma Travels) is still reported missing after the incident.

Sri Lankan ambassador Ibrahim Sahib Ansar who was at the site with his Consul General Abdul Cader Mohamed Ibrahim told the Daily Newsthat it was an unfortunate incident. His team of officials rushed to the spot to assist the Lankan Hajis caught in the stampede.

The embassy team had visited all the 59 Sri Lankan groups to ensure the welfare of the Colombo Hajis. The MP for Wanni Rizah Badurdeen who was representing Minister Hakeem, is overseeing evacuation arrangements after the incident.

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