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At least two Gambian pilgrims missing in Saudi - official

Oct 2, 2015, 12:20 PM

The Gambian Minister of Higher Education, Research Science and Technology, Dr Abubacarr Senghore, who is also a member of the Hajj Commission has confirmed that two Gambian pilgrims went missing during this year’s hajj in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Senghore made the statement on the national television channel, GRTS, on Wednesday night. He said efforts are intensifying to search for the unnamed missing Gambians, while urging families to follow the media for updates on the issue.

Meanwhile, the Gambia International Airlines (GIA) has already flown back 75 percent of the pilgrims in three flights, with the third flight containing 375 pilgrims landing at the Banjul International Airport on Wednesday.

According to GIA, the fourth flight which is the final flight will bring back the remaining pilgrims and that flight is expected to arrive in Banjul on Friday, marking the end of the 2015 Hajj process.

A stampede killed at least 717 people and injured hundreds more at the hajj in Saudi Arabia on September 24, in one of the worst-ever tragedies at the annual Muslim pilgrimage.

Source: APA