Sunday, July 5, 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

    Weaning Canada Off Fossil Fuels: Scholars Says Low Carbon Economy Within Reach

    Weaning Canada Off Fossil Fuels: Scholars Says Low Carbon Economy Within Reach
    Dozens of Canada's top scholars are urging a sweeping remake of how the country produces and uses its energy in a necessary effort to wean itself off fossil fuels.

    Weaning Canada Off Fossil Fuels: Scholars Says Low Carbon Economy Within Reach

    Jurors At Via Terror Trial Given Fresh Instructions On Element Of Intent

    Jurors At Via Terror Trial Given Fresh Instructions On Element Of Intent
    TORONTO — Two men accused of plotting to derail a passenger train need to have "genuinely meant" to bring about that alleged crime, as opposed to feigning that intention, a jury was told Wednesday as they entered their eighth day of deliberations.

    Jurors At Via Terror Trial Given Fresh Instructions On Element Of Intent

    Harper Government Takes Wait-and-see Attitude On Israeli Vote

    Harper Government Takes Wait-and-see Attitude On Israeli Vote
    OTTAWA — The Harper government is taking a wait-and-see attitude on the foreign policy implications of the Israeli election. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's right-wing Likud Party has won re-election in Israel's national ballot.

    Harper Government Takes Wait-and-see Attitude On Israeli Vote

    Vancouver Unveils Pat Quinn Way To Honour Hockey Icon And Former Canucks Coach

    Vancouver Unveils Pat Quinn Way To Honour Hockey Icon And Former Canucks Coach
    Vancouver celebrated St. Patrick's day this year with a special tribute to former Canucks coach and Canadian hockey icon Pat Quinn.

    Vancouver Unveils Pat Quinn Way To Honour Hockey Icon And Former Canucks Coach

    Richmond Mounties Warn Of Increase In 'Sextortion' Targeting Online Victims

    Richmond Mounties Warn Of Increase In 'Sextortion' Targeting Online Victims
    Mounties in Richmond, B.C., say victims are befriended online through dating websites and are persuaded to perform intimate acts in front web cameras, 

    Richmond Mounties Warn Of Increase In 'Sextortion' Targeting Online Victims

    'Allahu Akbar': B.C. Man John Nuttall Praised Allah After Planting Bombs At Legislature On Canada Da

    VANCOUVER — An accused terrorist praised Allah after allegedly planting homemade pressure-cooker bombs on the lawn of the B.C. legislature on Canada Day.

    'Allahu Akbar': B.C. Man John Nuttall Praised Allah After Planting Bombs At Legislature On Canada Da