Tuesday, July 7, 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

    Many turned away as hundreds line up for funeral of Toronto boy who froze to death

    Many turned away as hundreds line up for funeral of Toronto boy who froze to death
    TORONTO — Hundreds lined up Saturday for the funeral of a Toronto boy whose death earlier this month touched the hearts of Canadians across the country.-photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO

    Many turned away as hundreds line up for funeral of Toronto boy who froze to death

    Adil Charkaoui blasts decision to suspend leases to Montreal Muslim schools

    Adil Charkaoui blasts decision to suspend leases to Montreal Muslim schools
    MONTREAL — Adil Charkaoui is blasting a decision by two Montreal junior colleges to suspend leases granted to his Arabic schools.

    Adil Charkaoui blasts decision to suspend leases to Montreal Muslim schools

    No defence witnesses or evidence being called in Via terror plot trial

    No defence witnesses or evidence being called in Via terror plot trial
    TORONTO — Two men accused of plotting to derail a passenger train travelling between Canada and the U.S. chose not to call any evidence or witnesses in their defence at their trial, clearing the way for the case to wrap up in the coming days

    No defence witnesses or evidence being called in Via terror plot trial

    Lawyer for Canadian journalist on trial in Egypt lashes out at Harper govt

    Lawyer for Canadian journalist on trial in Egypt lashes out at Harper govt
    The high-profile human rights lawyer for a Canadian journalist on trial in Egypt is lashing out at what she calls Canada's "woefully inadequate" efforts to bring him home.

    Lawyer for Canadian journalist on trial in Egypt lashes out at Harper govt

    Six Quebecers left country in January and may have joined jihad groups: report

    Six Quebecers left country in January and may have joined jihad groups: report
    MONTREAL — Reports claiming six young Quebecers left the country in mid-January and may have joined jihadist groups in the Middle East prompted a call from public safety officials urging families to contact authorities if they suspect relatives have been radicalized.

    Six Quebecers left country in January and may have joined jihad groups: report

    Police say two bodies found in debris of Quebec fire where children reported missing

    Police say two bodies found in debris of Quebec fire where children reported missing
    GRACEFIELD, Que. — Quebec provincial police say they've found two bodies at the scene of a house fire in the western Quebec community of Gracefield where two children were believed missing late Thursday.

    Police say two bodies found in debris of Quebec fire where children reported missing