At least 717 persons have died and another 863 injured in a second hajj tragedy in as many weeks. The cause this time around was a stampede similar to that which killed over 300 people in 2003, and is said to be the worst incidence during the hajj in 25 years. This latest tragedy continues to uncover the gaping inadequacies of the Saudi authorities in organising and ensuring participants' safety in a gathering of this magnitude.
Reports from bbc.co.uk suggest that the cause of the stampede was as a result of one of the roads leading to the jamarat (stoning of the devil, pictured above) being blocked by security officials. Those returning from 'stoning the devil' and those on their way to do so subsequently had only one access road - a recipe for the ensuing disaster. Another eye witness said that a man had tripped over another in a wheelchair (a complete lack of consideration for the disabled) and more people tripped over him. A Saudi minister was on record as saying that the tragedy was the result of the pilgrims not obeying instructions.
It is normal to trade blames when unfortunate incidents like this occur, but this is not the time to trade blames, rather it is the time to reassess the measures in place for the remainder of the pilgrimage to avoid another catastrophe. The Saudi authorities may be reluctant to brand the latest victims of their negligence as matyrs seeing that nearly a thousand persons have died and many more injured under their watch.
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