MUMBAI: At least 18 people were killed and 40 injured when a stampede broke out in the Malabar Hill area where a huge crowd had gathered to pay last respects to the spiritual leader of the Dawoodi Bohra community in the wee hours today.
The incident occurred after 1 AM when hundreds of people had gathered to pay last respects to the spiritual leader of Dawoodi Bohra community, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, who died yesterday at the age of 102, civic officials said.
After learning of his death, his followers had started thronging his house, which is in the vicinity of the official residence of the Maharashtra Chief Minister, and soon a stampede broke out.
The injured have been admitted to the Saifee Hospital.
Dawoodi Bohra is a sect of Shia Muslims spread all over the world. One of the key principles of the sect is “patriotism as part of the faith.”
The 52nd Dai al-Mutlaq of the worldwide Dawoodi Bohra community, the leader was the eldest son of Syedna Taher Saifuddin. He succeeded his father upon his death in 1965.
He was credited with transforming Dawoodi Bohras into a vibrant community and honored with highest civilian titles like the Star of Jordan and Order of the Nile by the respective governments of Jordan and Egypt.
Syedna was conferred Honorary Doctorates for his efforts in social and educational development by renowned institutes like Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Aligarh Muslim University and University of Karachi.–PTI
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