Death toll of Pakistani pilgrims in Mina stampede rises to 54

Bodies of 10 more pilgrims who went missing following the incident have been identified

ISLAMABAD: Bodies of eight more Pakistani pilgrims who went missing following the Mina incident were identified on Thursday, taking the death toll to 54.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has released names and other details of these pilgrims on its website. Of these, 21 are officially verified by the Saudi government while the rest by their relatives and witnesses.

The pilgrims were killed in a crush at Mina, where over two million people were performing the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

As many as 49 Pakistani pilgrims also sustained injuries in the incident, 39 of whom have been discharged from hospitals.

When contacted, Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Mina incident Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry said the Saudi government had appointed two officials to facilitate Pakistan government on missing pilgrims.

Read: Death toll of Pakistani pilgrims in Mina stampede rises to 42

“It was a huge incident, which is why it became difficult to locate the missing victims," he said. "There are many countries, including Pakistan that are making efforts to locate their missing citizens."

The cell established to facilitate the relatives of Mina incident victims is fully functional, he added.

Meanwhile, chairman Pakistan Ulema Council Maulana Tahir Ashrafi announced special prayers will take place across the country after Friday prayers to express solidarity with the heirs of those who lost their lives in the incident.