Thursday, June 18, 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

    Energy East Pipeline Would Threaten Manitoba's Drinking Water: Report

    Energy East Pipeline Would Threaten Manitoba's Drinking Water: Report
    WINNIPEG — A new report says a pipeline that would carry one million barrels of oil daily from Alberta to the East Coast would threaten the drinking water of more than 60 per cent of Manitoba residents.

    Energy East Pipeline Would Threaten Manitoba's Drinking Water: Report

    Canada Helps Block Un Plan To Rid World Of Nukes, Citing Defence Of Israel

    Canada Helps Block Un Plan To Rid World Of Nukes, Citing Defence Of Israel
    OTTAWA — Israel is thanking Canada for helping to block a major international plan to work towards ridding the world of nuclear weapons.

    Canada Helps Block Un Plan To Rid World Of Nukes, Citing Defence Of Israel

    Crews Make Headway Against Large Wildfire Raging In B.C.'s Central Interior

    Crews Make Headway Against Large Wildfire Raging In B.C.'s Central Interior
    PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. — A wildfire raging mostly out of control over the past two weeks in British Columbia's Central Interior has been largely contained.

    Crews Make Headway Against Large Wildfire Raging In B.C.'s Central Interior

    Closing Arguments Expected This Week In Trial Of Alleged B.C. Terrorism Plotters

    VANCOUVER — Crown and defence lawyers were expected to make their closing arguments this week to the jury hearing the case of two people accused of plotting to set off homemade bombs on the lawn of the B.C. legislature.

    Closing Arguments Expected This Week In Trial Of Alleged B.C. Terrorism Plotters

    Volley Of Gunshots Fired Between Black Cars Near Playground In Surrey Where Children Were Playing

    Volley Of Gunshots Fired Between Black Cars Near Playground In Surrey Where Children Were Playing
    Bystanders say children were playing outdoors at the time of the 8 p.m. incident on 13400 block of 70B Avenue, which was also close to a popular park and not far from an elementary school

    Volley Of Gunshots Fired Between Black Cars Near Playground In Surrey Where Children Were Playing

    India's First Matrimonial Ad For Gay Son Stirs Lively Debate

    India's First Matrimonial Ad For Gay Son Stirs Lively Debate
    When Mumbai-based Harish Iyer's mother Padma placed a matrimonial advertisement in a Mumbai tabloid for her gay son, she never thought it would generate a debate across and outside the country

    India's First Matrimonial Ad For Gay Son Stirs Lively Debate