Thursday, June 11, 2026
ADVT 
National

Over 65 Killed As Crane Falls On Mecca's Grand Mosque

Darpan News Desk IANS, 11 Sep, 2015 10:38 AM
    Over 65 people were killed after a crane collapsed on to the Grand Mosque in the Saudi Arabia's holy city of Makkah, which is preparing for the Annual Haj.
     
    At least 65 people have been killed and at least 30 injured, reported the BBC, citing the Saudi civil defence authority.
     
     
     
     
    It was raining heavily at the time. Few other details are available. Images from the scene showed part of a huge red crane had crashed through the roof of the mosque.Mecca is preparing for the annual Muslim Hajj pilgrimage.
     
    Construction work has been going on at the Grand Mosque for years to make it big enough to cope with the huge numbers of people who come each year.
     
     
    The incident occurred as hundreds of thousands of Muslims gather from all over the world for the annual hajj pilgrimage set to begin later this month, and Saudi authorities go to great lengths to be prepared for the millions of Muslims who converge on Makkah.
     
    The Grand Mosque is usually at its most crowded on Fridays, the Muslim weekly day of prayer.
     
     
     
     
    Last year, the kingdom reduced the numbers permitted to perform haj for safety reasons because of construction work to enlarge the Grand Mosque.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Growing Wildfire Forces People From Maligne Valley In Jasper National Park

    Growing Wildfire Forces People From Maligne Valley In Jasper National Park
    JASPER, Alta. — A wildfire burning in Jasper National Park has grown substantially as staff work to get campers and other visitors out of the area.

    Growing Wildfire Forces People From Maligne Valley In Jasper National Park

    B.C. Coroners Service Denies Deleting Fired Health Worker's Suicide Note

    VICTORIA — The British Columbia Coroners Service denies it deleted the suicide note of a man who remains part of a long-running controversy that surrounds the firings of eight government health workers.

    B.C. Coroners Service Denies Deleting Fired Health Worker's Suicide Note

    B.C., First Nation On Path To Reconciliation Over Dam, Grave Destruction

    B.C., First Nation On Path To Reconciliation Over Dam, Grave Destruction
    An agreement signed between the province and the Cheslatta Carrier Nation is expected to guide reconciliation talks on issues including the 1952 building of the Kenney Dam in the northern Interior.

    B.C., First Nation On Path To Reconciliation Over Dam, Grave Destruction

    Ten Grass Fires Extinguished In North Vancouver; Police Seek Arsonist

    Ten Grass Fires Extinguished In North Vancouver; Police Seek Arsonist
    VANCOUVER — Police say firefighters have extinguished 10 small grass fires that were intentionally set on a trail in North Vancouver, B.C.

    Ten Grass Fires Extinguished In North Vancouver; Police Seek Arsonist

    Posh Hundred-dollar Hot Dogs Sell Out In A Day At Calgary Stampede

    Posh Hundred-dollar Hot Dogs Sell Out In A Day At Calgary Stampede
    CALGARY — A food truck selling a posh hot dog for $100 at the Calgary Stampede has sold out after just one day. The Dragon Dog is infused with expensive cognac and topped with Kobe beef, lobster and truffles.

    Posh Hundred-dollar Hot Dogs Sell Out In A Day At Calgary Stampede

    Trade Deficit Due To Circumstances Beyond Government Control: Trade Minister

    TORONTO — Federal Trade Minister Ed Fast says Canada's near-record trade deficit in May was due to circumstances in the global market beyond the government's control.

    Trade Deficit Due To Circumstances Beyond Government Control: Trade Minister