The violation of rule has lead to the stampede in Mina which killed 769 Hajis, reports daily Asharq Al-Awsat.
Quoting an official of the Tawafa Establishment for the Iranian Pilgrims, the daily said around 300 Iranian pilgrims violated the pilgrims’ grouping regulations which caused the stampede on Thursday.
Around 934 Hajis were injured in the incident.
Wishing anonymity, the official said the violation of rules by the Iranian pilgrims started from their very first movement from Muzdalifah on Thursday morning to Jamarat to perform the first day’s stoning ritual.
The official added they were clearly instructed to go to their tents from Muzdalifah instead of moving to Jamarat with their baggage. They had been instructed to take rest in their tents and wait for the time allotted for them to perform their stoning ritual.
However, these pilgrims moved back to their tents from Jamarat through Street 204 in the opposite direction of pilgrims’ movement, the official said. The flow of pilgrims from two opposite directions resulted in the overcrowding and the stampede ensued.
Sources said there are cameras installed in the tunnels leading to Jamarat and it will be obvious from the visuals that the Iranian pilgrims committed violations with regard to their movement to Jamarat.
It was mandatory for all tawafa establishments to abide by the pilgrims’ grouping regulations.
