Srinagar, Sep 30 (KNS): Jammu and Kashmir government Wednesday confirmed that 10 Kashmiri Hajj pilgrims have died, including 3 in Mina stampede, in Saudi Arabia so far. The government also confirmed that four pilgrims have been injured in the stampede while as four others are reported to be missing since the incident.
Minister for Haj and Auqaf, Abdul Rehman Veeri while addressing a press conference at civil secretariat here confirmed the death of three Kashmiri Hajj pilgrims in Mina stampede, one in crane incident at Makkah, four as natural death and said the cause of two other deaths was yet to be ascertained.
He added that 4 Hajjis were injured in the stampede and 4 others are missing since the incident.
The minister identified those killed in the stampede as Abdul Salam son of Muhammad Shaban Dar of Mustufa Abad Colony Old HMT Road Zainkote, Muhammad Amin son of Ghulam Qadir resident of Bilal Colony Bemina and third pilgrim has been identified as Mehraj-ud- Din son of Abdul Rehman resident of Patlipora Bala Chatabal. All the three pilgrims are from district Srinagar. The pilgrim who died crane crash at Makkah has been identified as Gh Hassan Kharadi from Doulat Abad Khayar.
The injured have been identified as Abdul Hamid Khan son of Muhammad Ayoub Khan of Hapatnard Seer Hamdana Anantnag, Ghulam Muhammad son of Abdul Shiekh resident of Doubagh Chanddosa Barramulla, Hajra Begum wife of Muhammad Akbar Ganaie resident of Barramulla district and fourth injured has been identified as Sara Begum wife of Ghulaam Rasool Sofi of HMT Zainkote Srinagar.
The Minister said that four pilgrims including a woman were missing who have been identified as Ghulaam Nabi son of Abdul Rehman Hajam resident of Pattan Barramulla, Zamruda Ganaie wife of Ghulaam Rasool Charloo, Abdul Khaliq son of Lasso Naikoo resident of Pinjoora Shopian and Shijahat Hussain son of Muhammad Ayaz Malik resident of Gurdal Aloosa Bandipora.
The government also identified the four pilgrims who have died as natural death as Ghulaam Nabi son of Habibulah Dar of Syedpora Srinagar, Siraj-ud- Din Sahaf cover number JKR- 195-02-0, Syed Mohi-ud- Din Shah cover number JKR- 10196- 02- 0 and Parveena Akhtar cover number JKR- 3196-2-0.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
The death of other two pilgrims Mukhta Banoo Cover Number JKR-254-02-0 and Abdul Wahid son of Abdullah Malik resident of Gulabad Arampora Sopore Barramulla have been also confirmed, but it was yet to be confirmed whether they died as natural death or in the stampede.
Veeri said that he would take up the issue of providing ex-gratia to the deceased families with Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed. “Chief Minister is in Delhi at present. Once he returns, I will take up this issue with him,” Veeray said while replying to a question whether State government would announce any compensation to the families who relative died during Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
Stating that injured pilgrims would be flown back in delayed flights in case they miss to catch their flights, he said, “Our people are on job to locate the missing pilgrims and for the care of injured there in Saudi Arabia. We have also taken issue of delay flights for the injured with the Saudi Government.”
Meanwhile, replying to a question minister said that none of the families of the pilgrims who died in Saudi Arabia have approached to the government for bringing bodies back to the valley. “That is a holy city and everyone wants that bodies should be buried there,” he said.
When asked about MP Mehbooba Mufti who was leading a hajj delegation for failing to speak on the issue so far, minister replied that she has visited every injured there.
On J&K government’s delay on confirmation of deaths of pilgrims he said, “More than 6000 pilgrims are there from this state we did not want to confuse their families. So we only confirmed after the proper verification and reports.”
He added that state government would take up the issue of providing cluster type accommodation for the Indian pilgrims with the concerned authorities of India and Saudi Arabia. “So that there will be nodal officer, observers and other people to look after them,” he added. (KNS)