Saturday, June 13, 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

    More Than 3,000 People Evacuated From Northern Saskatchewan Due To Fires, Smoke

    More Than 3,000 People Evacuated From Northern Saskatchewan Due To Fires, Smoke
    Fires and smoke have been threatening communities near La Ronge and La Loche since late last week. Many evacuees are staying in Prince Albert, Saskatoon and Regina.

    More Than 3,000 People Evacuated From Northern Saskatchewan Due To Fires, Smoke

    Case Of British Navy Members Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Woman Due In Court

    Simon Radford, Joshua Finbow, Craig Stoner and Darren Smalley were in Nova Scotia to play in a hockey tournament with local Armed Forces personnel when they were arrested in April.

    Case Of British Navy Members Accused Of Sexually Assaulting Woman Due In Court

    BC Safety Authority Releases Report On Chairlift Crash, Makes 7 Recommendations

    BC Safety Authority Releases Report On Chairlift Crash, Makes 7 Recommendations
    In March 2014 a chairlift at Crystal Mountain Resort near West Kelowna, B.C., deroped, sending three chairs plummeting into the snow and putting four people in hospital.

    BC Safety Authority Releases Report On Chairlift Crash, Makes 7 Recommendations

    Maryam Rashidi's Accused Killer, Joshua Cody Mitchell, Charged With Second-Degree Murder

    Maryam Rashidi's Accused Killer, Joshua Cody Mitchell, Charged With Second-Degree Murder
    Joshua Cody Mitchell, who is 20, appeared in court on closed-circuit television Tuesday and had his case put over until July 30 to give his lawyer time to review the file.

    Maryam Rashidi's Accused Killer, Joshua Cody Mitchell, Charged With Second-Degree Murder

    Winnipeg Man, Aaron Driver, Suspected Of Planning Terrorism Says Charter Rights Violated

    Winnipeg Man, Aaron Driver, Suspected Of Planning Terrorism Says Charter Rights Violated
    Leonard Tailleur is asking the court to determine whether federal authorities are being excessive in seeking a peace bond against his client, Aaron Driver.

    Winnipeg Man, Aaron Driver, Suspected Of Planning Terrorism Says Charter Rights Violated

    HOV Lane Violators Aware Of Rules, Just Hoping To Not Get Caught: Police

    HOV Lane Violators Aware Of Rules, Just Hoping To Not Get Caught: Police
    Ontario Provincial Police Sgt. Kerry Schmidt says motorists were pulled over for carrying fewer than three people in the specially marked lanes as the rules came into effect Monday.

    HOV Lane Violators Aware Of Rules, Just Hoping To Not Get Caught: Police