Monday, June 15, 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

    Vancouver Aquarium Says 'NO' To Ending Practice Of Keeping Animals In Captivity

    Vancouver Aquarium Says 'NO' To Ending Practice Of Keeping Animals In Captivity
    VANCOUVER — The Vancouver Aquarium's chief executive says a senator's call to stop keeping whales and dolphins in marine parks would rob Canadians of vital research and education aimed at protecting animals in the wild.

    Vancouver Aquarium Says 'NO' To Ending Practice Of Keeping Animals In Captivity

    Mass Yoga Event On Vancouver's Burrard Bridge Cancelled After Widespread Backlash

    Mass Yoga Event On Vancouver's Burrard Bridge Cancelled After Widespread Backlash
    VICTORIA -- A mass yoga session planned for a downtown Vancouver bridge has collapsed after British Columbia's premier announced she would drop out of the event and two companies backed out of sponsoring it.

    Mass Yoga Event On Vancouver's Burrard Bridge Cancelled After Widespread Backlash

    Crown Will Not Challenge Outings For Mentally Ill Dad Allan Schoenborn Who Murdered His 3 Kids

    Crown Will Not Challenge Outings For Mentally Ill Dad Allan Schoenborn Who Murdered His 3 Kids
    The B.C. Criminal Justice Branch has decided against legally challenging a decision by the B.C. Review Board granting Allan Schoenborn supervised day trips.

    Crown Will Not Challenge Outings For Mentally Ill Dad Allan Schoenborn Who Murdered His 3 Kids

    Left-Lane Hogs Beware: New Rules For B.C. Highway Drivers Could Net $167 Ticket

    Left-Lane Hogs Beware: New Rules For B.C. Highway Drivers Could Net $167 Ticket
    Police can now ticket drivers who don't use the left lane for either passing, allowing traffic to merge or preparing for a turn. Lawbreakers could be hit with a $167 fine and three driver penalty points.

    Left-Lane Hogs Beware: New Rules For B.C. Highway Drivers Could Net $167 Ticket

    B.C. Premier Drops Out Of Vancouver Yoga Day Event On Burrard Street Bridge

    B.C. Premier Drops Out Of Vancouver Yoga Day Event On Burrard Street Bridge
    VICTORIA — The politics of yoga has prompted British Columbia's premier to drop out of a mass yoga session on a downtown Vancouver bridge that will be closed for the event.

    B.C. Premier Drops Out Of Vancouver Yoga Day Event On Burrard Street Bridge

    Vancouver Teenager Charged With Killing His 80-Year-Old Father

    Vancouver Teenager Charged With Killing His 80-Year-Old Father
    Police say Alexander Shevalev was arrested Wednesday and charged with manslaughter. Eighty-year-old Vladimir Shevalev was found dead in his apartment in the Coal Harbour area on March 1

    Vancouver Teenager Charged With Killing His 80-Year-Old Father