18 dead, 59 injured in stampede ahead of Syedna’s burial

Mumbai,18 January 2014

18 people were dead and around 59 were injured due to stampede outside Dawoodi Bohra spiritual leader Syedna Mohammer Burhanuddin’s residence Saifee house in Malabar Hill area of Mumbai. The cause of death was suffocation according to city Police Commissioner. 56 out of 59 injured are relieved from hospital. The incident took place at around 3.00 am when gates of Saifee house were closed and people still wanted to go in to have a last glimpse of Sydena.

Chief Minister Narendra Modi on micro blogging site Twitter said, “Stampede near Syedna Sahib’s residence is very unfortunate. Condolences to families of those who lost their lives & prayers with the injured.”

Spiritual leader Syedna Sahib passed away yesterday. He was 102. The burial was scheduled for Saturday morning at Rahudat Tahera mausoleum, next to his father’s grave in Bhindi Bazar area, 4 km from Saifee house. The final rites were scheduled to be led by Dr Burhanuddin’s son Syedi Mufaddal Bhaisaheb Saifuddin (70), who has succeeded him.

Over a thousand Burhani guards (Bohri youths deployed for crowd management) had been overseeing the arrangements for the funeral as thousands were expected to join the procession from Saifee Mahal in Malabar Hill where the body is kept, to Saifee Masjid in Bhendi Bazaar where prayers had to be held before the burial.

At around 9.25 am procession of Sydena Burhanuddin left his Malabar Hill residence. Thousands gathered along the road to see his last glimpse.