Haj stampede: Two Indian officials reach accident site

New Delhi, Sept 24: Two Indian officials have reached the site of the accident near Makkah as one Indian woman was reported to be among the over 700 people killed during a stampede during Haj and another injured.

"We will provide all help to Indian nationals. Two of our officials have reached the site of accident. We are in constant touch with them," tweeted External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

Earlier, the external affairs ministry said it was monitoring the situation in Saudi Arabia where over 800 pilgrims were also injured in the stampede in Mina, some five kilometres from Makkah.

A woman from Telangana was among the Haj pilgrims killed, an official of the Telangana State Haj Committee said in Hyderabad. Another Indian from Lakshadweep was among the injured, Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala told the media.

The ministry posted the emergency number in Makkah: 00966125458000; 00966125496000l and toll-free number for pilgrims in Saudi Arabia: 8002477786.

About two million Muslims are taking part in this year's Haj pilgrimage, which began on Tuesday. Some 136,000 pilgrims are from India.

IANS