Three pilgrims from TN killed in Haj stampede: CM

Chennai: Tamil Nadu government Friday said that three pilgrims from the state were among those killed in the Haj stampede yesterday in Saudi Arabia.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa said that Shamshudeen Mohamad Ebrahim of Mayiladuthurai (Nagapattinam district), Mohideen Pitchal of Tenkasi in Tirunelveli district and Remijen from Tiruchirappally lost their lives in the tragedy.

They had undertaken the pilgrimage through the State Haj Committee, she said while expressing regret over their death.

"I extend my deep condolences and sympathies to the families of the deceased," she said in a statement here, adding that she was "deeply grieved" over the tragedy.

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said today that the number of Indian casualties has gone up to 14 in the Haj stampede that claimed 717 lives and left over 800 injured.

"Our consul general Jeddah reports loss of 14 Indian lives in stampede," the minister said in a tweet. She added that "we have 13 injured in hospital".

The name of Remijen, the third victim hailing from Tamil Nadu, was not mentioned in the list of the 14 Indian deceased even as Swaraj further said that the "exact number will be known after confirmation by Saudi authorities".

The stampede, the second worst tragedy after 1990, occurred at the intersection of two streets leading to Jamarat, about five kilometres from Makkah.