Wednesday, June 24, 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

    No One Injured In Rock Slide On Squamish's Stawamus Chief Mountain

    No One Injured In Rock Slide On Squamish's Stawamus Chief Mountain
    SQUAMISH, B.C. — There are no reported injuries following a rock slide on the Stawamus Chief Mountain in Squamish on Sunday.

    No One Injured In Rock Slide On Squamish's Stawamus Chief Mountain

    Surrey RCMP Investigating Friday Night Gunfire After A Spate Of Shootings

    Surrey RCMP Investigating Friday Night Gunfire After A Spate Of Shootings
    Surrey RCMP say they received several 911 calls at around 11:15 p.m. Friday reporting hearing multiple gun shots near 65th Avenue and 121st Street.

    Surrey RCMP Investigating Friday Night Gunfire After A Spate Of Shootings

    New Westminster Police Investigate Stabbing Near Skytrain Station

    New Westminster Police Investigate Stabbing Near Skytrain Station
    NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. — Four suspects are in custody after a stabbing in New Westminster early Saturday. Police responded at about 12:30 a.m. to reports of a male bleeding profusely near the New Westminster SkyTrain Station.

    New Westminster Police Investigate Stabbing Near Skytrain Station

    Man Charged With Murder After Woman's Body Found In Mission Trailer Fire

    Man Charged With Murder After Woman's Body Found In Mission Trailer Fire
    MISSION, B.C. — A man has been charged with murder after a woman's body was found in the wreckage of a trailer home fire in Mission, B.C.

    Man Charged With Murder After Woman's Body Found In Mission Trailer Fire

    Researchers, Government, Public Discuss Hiking Happiness At Vancouver Symposium

    Researchers, Government, Public Discuss Hiking Happiness At Vancouver Symposium
    John Helliwell, one of the world's leading happiness researchers, said he often makes the quirky request when speaking to people about happiness. 

    Researchers, Government, Public Discuss Hiking Happiness At Vancouver Symposium

    How The Oil Shock Turned Federal Budget Wish Lists Into Watery Wine

    OTTAWA — As last autumn's colours were setting in, veteran Ottawa lobbyist Dan Kelly was confident the spring would produce a federal budget surplus with ample room for announcements.

    How The Oil Shock Turned Federal Budget Wish Lists Into Watery Wine