2 J&K Haj pilgrims among 17 died in Saudi Arabia

Srinagar, Dec 2: As many as 17 Haj pilgrims from India have so far died at the twin Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia mostly due to cardiac arrest, officials said today.

Of these, two pilgrims were from Jammu and Kashmir.

The officials said 60-year-old Khatija, wife of Ghulam Ahmed Khan, with passport number 39232 and cover number JK-1113-4, died of cardiac arrest at Medina on November 20.

The second deceased woman Haj pilgrim from Jammu and Kashmir was identified as 70-year-old Raja Begum, wife of Ghulam Mohammad Dar.

Raja Begum (passport number 36852 and cover number JK-1271-4) also died of cardiac arrest at Medina on November 25.

Among the deceased, the officials said five were from Kerala, three from Uttar Pradesh, two each from Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and Andhra Pradesh and one each from Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat.

Of 17 dead, five were women pilgrims, they added.

UNI