Compensation to other Hajis also who died in stampede: Ahamed

New Delhi, Mar 14 (UNI) The Government is considering to compensate the families of those Indian Hajis who had died in a stampede in Mecca this year and had gone there on their own.

Intervening on the Discussion on Working of External Affairs Ministry in the Rajya Sabha today, Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed informed that 62 Indians had died in the stampede of which 46 had gone through the Central Haj Committee, 10 with the help of private travel agents and six from other Gulf countries.

Mr Ahamed made it clear that according to the law the Government was responsible for compensation to only those 46 people who had undertaken Haj through the Central Haj Committee, and their family members were being given compensation ranging from Rs one lakh to three lakh.

The Minister said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had asked to consider the remaining 16 cases also for compensation on humanitarian grounds, and after some consideration it is being proposed to compensate the families of those also who had gone without the help of the Central Haj Committee.

UNI BBS RL GC1920