We are all extremely saddened by the tragic crane accident at the Grand Mosque in Makkah in which more than 100 people died and over 200 were injured. The crane collapsed inside the Grand Mosque after being hit by strong winds and heavy rain on Friday evening just days before the beginning of the annual Haj pilgrimage during which hundreds of thousands of Muslims gather from around the world. The Grand Mosque is always crowded on Friday with many faithful attending for prayer. The crane, which was being used for massive ongoing construction work for the expansion of the Grand Mosque, fell while heavy storms were lashing the city. It is even thought that lightning might have struck the crane before it collapsed. The Grand Mosque is one of of Islam's most revered sites and it contains the Holy Kaaba toward which millions of Muslims worldwide pray each day and which has a major role in the Haj. Our heartfelt condolences and prayers are with the bereaved families who lost their loved ones in this tragic accident, and we wish for the speedy recovery of the injured. Ramesh G Jethwani, Bangalore, India
