Thursday, June 4, 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

    Margaret Atwood Column On Harper Hair Disappears, Then Reappears

    Margaret Atwood Column On Harper Hair Disappears, Then Reappears
    Atwood's piece was back on the newspaper's main page late Friday after being taken down mid-afternoon. The Post said in an email it was held for fact checking.

    Margaret Atwood Column On Harper Hair Disappears, Then Reappears

    Cement, Steel Groups Say Quebec Risking Safety By Allowing Taller Wood Buildings

    Cement, Steel Groups Say Quebec Risking Safety By Allowing Taller Wood Buildings
    MONTREAL — Canada's cement and steel sectors say Quebec is favouring one industry and possibly putting public safety at risk by allowing wood to be used in the construction of buildings up to 12 storeys high.

    Cement, Steel Groups Say Quebec Risking Safety By Allowing Taller Wood Buildings

    Municipalities Unprepared For 'Weather Whiplash,' Warns Top Meteorologist

    Municipalities Unprepared For 'Weather Whiplash,' Warns Top Meteorologist
    HALIFAX — A top Canadian meteorologist warns that municipalities aren't prepared to deal with the impacts of an increasingly volatile climate that can bring devastating floods one season and a drought the next.

    Municipalities Unprepared For 'Weather Whiplash,' Warns Top Meteorologist

    How A Reclusive Rural Manitoba Woman Scammed An NBA Star, Others

    How A Reclusive Rural Manitoba Woman Scammed An NBA Star, Others
    A woman who rarely left her house in northern Manitoba has admitted to impersonating several people online — including a professional athlete  — so she could receive money and gifts and live in a world of celebrity fantasy.

    How A Reclusive Rural Manitoba Woman Scammed An NBA Star, Others

    Alberta Premier Rachel Notley Won't Back Away From Royalty Review, Tax Hike Because Of Low Oil

    Alberta Premier Rachel Notley Won't Back Away From Royalty Review, Tax Hike Because Of Low Oil
    EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says falling oil prices won't force her government to back away from a royalty review or a hike to corporate taxes.

    Alberta Premier Rachel Notley Won't Back Away From Royalty Review, Tax Hike Because Of Low Oil

    NDP promise positivity in the face of partisan attacks

    OTTAWA — NDP Leader Tom Mulcair is using the anniversary of his predecessor's death to promise he'll run a positive campaign despite attacks from his rivals.

    NDP promise positivity in the face of partisan attacks