A group of Indonesian pilgrims stone pillars symbolizing Satan in Mina. (Reuters)

By Fawaz Mohammad, IOL Correspondent

MAKKAH, January 22 (IslamOnline.net) – At least ten pilgrims died and 30 others sustained injuries Saturday, January 22, in a minor stampede at the Jamarat stoning site in Mina.

“Some ten pilgrims died and 30 others were injured earlier today (Saturday) in Mina,” IslamOnline.net’s correspondent quoted eyewitnesses as saying.

Around 2.5 million pilgrims have poured into the Jamarat area since Thursday, January 20, the first day of the stoning ritual and the start of `Eid al-Adha.

Saudi Arabia has revamped the Jamarat area, where pilgrims amass to stone pillars symbolizing Satan, after a stampede tragedy last hajj killed 251 pilgrims.

Hajj Minister Iyad Bin Amin Madani said last week that the new changes included new emergency exits at the place where the pilgrims throw Jamrat Al-Aqabah.

The authorities also changed the circular shape of the Jamrat fence into oval and widened the pillars.

They have further installed four surveillance cameras around the Jamrat bridge to avert potential stampedes.

There have been many deadly stampedes in the past. In 2003, 14 pilgrims, including six women, were killed during the first day of the stoning ritual, 35 in 2001 and 118 in 1998.

The worst toll was in July 1990, when 1,426 pilgrims were trampled or asphyxiated to death in a stampede in a tunnel in Mina.

Pilgrims hurl seven pebbles from behind a fence or from the overhead bridge every day for three days at each of the three 18-metre (58-foot) high concrete pillars.

Torrential rain

Meanwhile, unseasonable heavy rains caused unexpected crowding and traffic jams in Makkah and Mina.

Torrential rain flooded the streets and uprooted pilgrims’ tents in Mina, says IOL correspondent.

The downpour also destroyed a main tunnel used by pilgrims in Mina which could trigger a serious traffic jam, with many of the pilgrims running for cover and seeking shelter, adds our correspondent.

Police and civil defense forces immediately rushed to the area to help the faithful.

Every able-bodied adult Muslim who can physically and financially afford the trip must perform hajj, one of the “five pillars” of Islam , once in their lifetime.

Official figures put the total number of pilgrims performing last year's hajj at 1,892,710, with 1,419,706 from abroad and 473,004 Saudis and other Muslim residents of the kingdom.