Pakistan: 47 nationals injured in Saudi crane crash

Pakistan said on Saturday that its 47 nationals were injured in a crane crash incident in the Saudi city of Makkah late Friday during the annual pilgrimage.

Saudi officials have confirmed that at least 107 people were killed and 238 wounded when a crane toppled over at Makkah's Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia due to strong winds and rains.

Pakistani Foreign Office spokesperson Qazi Khalilullah said in Islamabad that 22 Pakistani pilgrims injured in the crane crash incident are under treatment in various hospitals while 25 other Pakistani pilgrims who sustained minor injuries have been discharged after treatment.

Khalilullah said no Pakistani pilgrim was killed in the incident. Local media reported earlier that one Pakistani was among the dead.

The spokesman said members of Pakistani medical team, who were in Saudi Arabia in connection with the annual pilgrimage, were engaged in providing medical treatment to the injured.

Pakistani Minister for Religious Affairs Sardar Yousaf said seven of the Pakistani injured are in critical condition. "We are in constant contact with the Saudi authorities. Pakistani doctors are providing medical aid to the injured,"Yousaf told state radio.

Pakistan's ambassador to Saudi Arabia Manzoor-ul-Haq said best medical facilities are being provided to the injured Pakistani pilgrims in Makkah.

Pakistani president and prime minister have expressed shock at the incident and showed sympathies with the bereaved families.

Source: XINHUA