Dubai: Two Indians were among an unspecified number of people killed today (Feb 1, 2004) during the annual Haj pilgrimage in Mena, near Mecca, in Saudi Arabia.

They were killed during the "stoning of Satan" ritual in the last stage of Haj, Indian Consul General in Jeddah, Syed Akbaruddin told over phone from the camp site.

The two Indians were identified as Mohammed Ali (40), son of Ahmed Kutty from Kozhikode in Kerala (passport number 22889) and Gulam Mohamed Mir (40), son of Mohamed Abdulla Mir from Anantnag in Jammu and Kashmir (passport number 53546), he said.

However, Akbaruddin said, "We do not know the exact number of people killed" during the "stoning of Satan" ritual.

"We can only say that it not an insignificant number," he said.

It is also not clear how many people were injured in the stampede. Police and medical teams have launched rescue and relief operation.

Around two million pilgrims flocked to Jamarat Bridge in Mena to throw pebbles at a pillar representing the devil.