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| Jamarat at Mina |
Fourteen pilgrims died during a stampede near the Jamarat pillars in Mina during the Day of Sacrifice.
The Saudi Press Agency reports the dead and injured pilgrims were returning from stoning the pillars (Jamarat) that represent the devil ritual at 10.30am (local time).
As one group of pilgrims collided into the crowd coming towards them some hajjis fell to the ground and were crushed.
The tragedy took place some two kilometres east of the Al-Aqaba pebble
throwing site on Souk Al-Arab Street in Mina near Mecca.
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| The area around the Jamarat is always overcrowded |
Of the injured most have been treated and discharged from hospital in good condition.
The dead pilgrims included: three females from India; three males and one female from Pakistan; two males and two females from Egypt; one female from Iran; one male from Yemen; and two unidentified male pilgrims.
This is not the first stampede at the Hajj. In 2001, 35 people died in Mina during the Stoning ritual. In 1998, at least 118 pilgrims were trampled to death and in 1994, 270 died as worshippers surged forward towards the Jamarat.
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| Police cars lined up at Mina |
The Saudi government through agencies such as the Hajj Research Centre have taken precautions to protect the crowd but many say that as the Hajj continues to grow tragedies are almost inevitable.
The pilgrimage, or Hajj, is taking place against the backdrop of a looming war with Iraq, and the thousands of troops are on hand to maintain order.
These include the National Guard, the internal security forces, the men of the civil defence, the traffic men and the scout cadets all tasked with easing the movement of the 2.3 million pilgrims.
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Fixed camera at Mina |
Nine helicopters monitor proceedings along with 2,000 cameras linked to hi-tech control rooms who spot trouble spots in the crowd.
But today all those arrangements did not prevent the tragedy.
Speaking of the deaths one pilgrim said that Muslims believe that dying on Hajj results in automatic entry to Heaven.
"Some aspire to die on Hajj but do not strive for it because suicide negates entry to Paradise," he said.
Many hajjis said they would remember the dead pilgrims in their prayers.
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Live at the Hajj