Saudi authorities deployed drones to watch over nearly 2 million pilgrims as they ascended Mount Arafat at the climax of the Haj on Sunday, part of stepped up efforts to avoid a repeat of last year’s crush amid an escalating war of words with Iran. Muslim pilgrims gather on Mount Mercy on the plains of Arafat during the annual Haj pilgrimage, outside the holy city of Mecca, on September 11, 2016. Saudi authorities have previously suggested that pilgrims failing to follow crowd control rules bore some blame for the disaster, but have not released any further details. Earlier in the week, Iran’s supreme leader accused Saudi authorities of murdering pilgrims during the crush. Pilgrims used buses, trains and private cars to move from their encampments in Mena to Mount Arafat.

Source: Hindustan Times September 12, 2016 02:51 UTC