Families wait for Hajj crush news

Injured pilgrims have been taken to hospital

Families of the estimated 25,000 Britons thought to have travelled to Saudi Arabia are waiting anxiously for news after 345 Hajj pilgrims died.

They were killed, and hundreds were injured, in a crush during a stone-throwing rite in Mina.

Phone lines to the country have become jammed and numbers engaged as families try to check on their loved ones.

Muslim groups in the UK have called for a limit on the number of pilgrims who go, to prevent further disasters.

More than two million people were thought to be taking part in the ritual on the last day of the five-day pilgrimage.

Caught in crush

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has sent his condolences to victims' families.

Tarif Javid's sister Sheraz, 35, and nephew, Ramzan, 19, from Leicester, were injured in the crush.

He told the BBC News Website: "They were caught in the middle of the stampede and were trampled on by what seemed to be hundreds of people."

We are glad that they are ok. But I think the trauma will be hard to get over Tarif Javid Injured pilgrim's brother

He said his sister had apparently tripped over someone and could not see any way of getting up.

"They felt that they were going to die and stared death in the face. It was just a large mass of people - if you fall down, that's it.

"When I spoke to her, she broke down in tears. She had dead bodies lying around her and had to climb over them to get out."

Sheraz suffered injuries, possibly fractures, to her ribs and legs and Ramzan scratches and bruising.

They are spending the night in hospital in Mina and hope to fly home on Saturday.

Sensed disaster

"We are glad as a family that they are ok," he added. "But I think the trauma of it will be hard to get over."

Clare McShane was worried her husband and father-of-two Ahmed, 32, had been killed. But she eventually managed to contact him on his mobile phone.

He had been at the site of the stone throwing, but sensed something was happening and moved off to a nearby mosque.

She said he had spoken to officials because he felt luggage on the road was a hazard.

"He knew something bad was going to happen. People were sitting down in the middle of the road on suitcases taking a rest.

"He said, 'This is really bad. It is awful, I just hope people from Britain weren't involved.'"

Waiting for call

Nadia Khan, 17, from Crawley, West Sussex, is one of the many still waiting for news from her family - but lines to them in Mecca are jammed.

Her mother Asra, 47, father Farooque, 58, and her aunt and uncle, were undertaking the journey for the first time.

We are just hoping they will call soon Nadia Khan

She has not spoken to them since Thursday last week, when a hostel near their hotel collapsed.

She has been ringing their hotel constantly since she saw the news.

But millions of other families try to make the same call, she either cannot get a line to Saudi Arabia, or finds the hotel's number is engaged.

"Usually, they don't get back to the hotel until quite late," she said. "We are just hoping they will call soon. "

Limit urged

In the wake of the tragedy, Muslim groups in the UK have urged a limit be put on the number of pilgrims taking part in the Hajj to reduce the pressure of numbers.

After a crowd crush in 2004, barriers and stewards were added to improve safety. But Thursday's death toll is the highest in 16 years.

The final day of Hajj should be one for joy and celebration, not one for sadness Foreign Secretary Jack Straw

Muslim Association of Britain president Ahmed Sheikh said Muslims should be discouraged from performing the Hajj multiple times.

"People go every year and I think they should be stopped. It's obligatory just once in a lifetime," he said.

And he criticised the Saudi authorities, saying they could be more open about the death toll, provide better emergency service response and improve routes in and out of the site.

Luggage claim

Medical adviser for the Association of British Hujjaj (Hajj) pilgrims Dr Syed Raza Hussain said it was unnecessary for pilgrims to have taken their luggage to the site. People tripping over bags was one of the factors being blamed for the deaths.

"All you need is a small handbag in which you can place your pebbles and some water to drink," he s said.

His organisation provides religious, medical and safety advice for those travelling to Saudi Arabia.

And he backed calls for a limit on numbers.

Condolences sent

The Foreign Office has confirmed two Britons were among those injured but it was not aware of any seriously injured or killed.

"Consular staff are on site and have been visiting hospitals in the area around Mecca and are in contact with the Saudi authorities.

"They will continue to look into this as a matter of urgency," they said in a statement.

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has said he was saddened by the news of the hundreds of deaths.

"The final day of Hajj should be one for joy and celebration, not one for sadness," he said.

"I would like to send my condolences and deep sympathies to the families of all those who have been affected by this terrible tragedy."