Crane tragedy is Allah's test for Muslims, pilgrims say

More important than that, they all agreed that the tragedy was a major test for all Muslims to repent and prove their faith in Allah.

"This is Allah's test for Muslims who probably had been too busy filming the sandstorm to the extent of forgetting that they are in Baitullah (House of Allah)," said Mohd Shariff Meon, 64, of Meru, Klang.

Mohd Shariff was heading for the 25 Marwah door in the saie area when the tragedy occurred at about 5pm (10pm Malaysian time).

He said during the mishap, he and his wife were thrown to the ground before being pulled away from the area by other pilgrims.

"I heard people screaming and saw them falling, many of them were smeared in blood after being struck by debris," said Mohd Shariff who sustained shoulder injury and currently receiving treatment at Tabung Haji (TH) emergency treatment centre at the Abraj Al-Janadriah building, here.

Another pilgrim, Rusiah Baba, 50, from Gombak, Selangor, said that she and her mother were praying near the Kaabah during the incident.

Rusiah, who is also being treated at the centre, said she was grateful to have lived to complete their pilgrimage.

"Many pilgrims were quite engrossed in taking pictures of the sandstorm in the Kaabah area and suddenly there was a very loud bang and the situation became chaotic with dust, wood and metal fragments flying all over. I also saw pilgrims smeared in blood," she said.

Meanwhile, Faridah Mat Yaakob, 46, of Bachok, Kelantan said her husband Mat Deris Mohd Nor, 62, was knocked out cold after stone fragments rained on him.

She said several other pilgrims then helped to carry her husband to the hospital.

She said she was truly grateful that both of them survived the incident despite suffering cuts on the heads and bodies.

Meanwhile, head of Malaysian Haj Delegation Datuk Syed Salleh Syed Abdul Rahman said of the 10 injured Malaysian pilgrims, six were being warded at the TH Emergency Treatment Centre at the Abraj Al-Jandriah building, one each at the Raja Abdul Aziz Hospital, Raja Faizal Hospital and An Nur Hospital, while the other one was allowed to return to his hostel at 10am, Saturday.

The incident, which resulted from the heavy rain and strong winds in the holy land, reportedly claimed 107 lives and caused injuries to 238 more.

Eight Malaysian pilgrims were still unaccounted for and efforts were being done to find them.