Four Muslim pilgrims die in Saudi Arabia
FOUR Ghanaian Muslim pilgrims have died of natural causes during this year’s pilgrimage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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Some of the pilgrims, who were part of the 5,309 Ghanaian Muslims who performed the Hajj, died before the start of the pilgrimage while others died during the pilgrimage.
A source close to the Pilgrimage Affairs Office of Ghana (PAOG) told the Daily Graphic that the death of the four Ghanaians was not related to the stampede that killed 717 pilgrims in Mina last week.
It said the Chairman of the PAOG, Alhaji Abdul-Rauf Tanko, led the search mission at the various hospitals in Mecca.
The names of the deceased were given as Hajia Zuweira Mohammed from Ashaiman in the Greater Accra Region, Alhaji Sidiri Yakubu from Nyankpala in the Northern Region, Alhaji Umar Ayana and Alhaji Abdul-Rahman Yahaya from Konongo in the Ashanti Region.
The source said the families of the deceased had been notified and indicated that the PAOG was waiting for instruction on their burial from the families.
Admission
Three other Ghanaian Muslim pilgrims are said to be on admission at different hospitals in Mecca.
They are Alhaji Abukari Iddrisu, Alhaji Salifu and Hajia Zainab Iddrisu.
Stampede
At least 717 people taking part in the Hajj pilgrimage have been killed in a stampede near the Islamic holy city of Mecca, according to Saudi Arabian officials.
Another 863 people were injured in the incident at Mina, which occurred as two million pilgrims were taking part in the Hajj's last major rite.
No Ghanaian was killed in the stampede.
