Death toll of Indians in Haj stampede rises to 74

The toll of Indians in the Haj stampede rose to 74 on Tuesday with Saudi authorities announcing more causalities, even as scores of people were still missing after the worst tragedy in 25 years to hit the annual pilgrimage.

“Haj stampede – Saudi Arabia has released a further list. The Indian toll is now 74,” External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said.

Scores of Indians and people from other countries are missing since the stampede at the annual Haj on September 24. Swaraj had earlier said 78 Indians are missing and the government is doing everything to locate them.

According to reports, tallies of the dead from foreign officials and media put the toll at 1,036. MoS for External Affairs VK Singh has been rushed to Saudi Arabia to coordinate with the authorities there to trace the missing Indians.

Singh was asked by Swaraj to leave on Monday after the Saudi government informed India that it would be interacting with individual countries regarding their nationals – dead or missing.