Haj stampede: Kolkata man awaits news of ‘missing’ parents

Akhtar Nawaz and Janun Nisha

Mohammed Jahangir Alam, a resident of Topsia Road in south Kolkata, had lost touch with his parents who were in Mecca for haj, since the stampede on September 24. The two — Akhtar Nawaz and Janun Nisha — had been reportedly missing since then.

“I had a word with them in the morning on the fateful day and since I heard of the mishap, there has been no sign of them. Two of my cousins who had gone to Mecca with them were also lost in the rush but they found their way and called to inform us that they could not locate my parents,” Alam said. He said he had tried to contact the Indian Embassy there as well as haj committee officials in Kolkata but could not get any information regarding the two.

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“We are in a state of anxiety and anticipating the worse. None of the family members are able to concentrate on any work. I wish the authorities would do something to help locate my parents,” Alam added.

Sayeed Ahmed Baba, principal secretary, minority department said he had inquired about the duo and found out that Saudi authorities were yet to release the complete details of dead pilgrims.