Death toll among Afghan hajj pilgrims climbs to 19

KABUL): The death toll among Afghan pilgrims has risen to 19, with another 13 sustaining injuries during the performance of this year’s pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, an official said on Tuesday.

All the causalities were a result of traffic accidents and illness, the acting Hajj and Religious Affairs Minister Dr. Daeeul Haq Abid told reporters in Kabul.

He identified the dead as Said Muhammad son of Rehmatullah from Qunduz, Bibi Hoghal Bardee daughter of Jawanmard from Baghlan, Muhammad Nadir son of Amir Khan from Maidan Wardak, Najibullah son of Rehmatullah from Nuristan, Khair Muhammad son of Muhammad Qurban from Ghazni, Abdul Majid son of Abdur Rauf from Balkh, Muhammad Naeem son of Muhammad Amin from Kabul, Mualim Shah son of Amir Shah from Paktika, Abdur Razzaq son of Abdullah from Kandahar, Hisam-ud-Din son of Baha-ud-Din from Nangarhar, Bibi Hira daughter of Syed Muhammad Anwar from Farah, Abdur Raheem son of Khair Muhammad from Kandahar, Sher Ahmad son of Sher Alam from Paktiya, Muhammad Salim son of Sardar from Ghazni, Ahmad Khan son of Muhammad Karim from Kunduz, Haji Rangeen son of Haji Afghan from Herat and Khudai Nazar son of Muhammad Karim.

 Sultan Muhammad son of Bastal from Nuristan and Abdullah son of Abdur Rasul from Baghdis had died due to sickness, the minister said.

Up to 3676 pilgrims out of more than 30000 had reached home from Saudi Arabia in 16 post-hajj flights through Kabul and Mazar-i-Sharif airports, Abid said.

mas/ma

Visits: 4