Irfan Mohammed
Jeddah : The Indian officials in Saudi Arabia have expressed satisfaction upon smoothly Hajj of this year which was concluded on Tuesday. Indian officials are seeking now feedback from pilgrims upon the services during their stay in holy cities in Saudi Arabia. Total of 2 lakh Indians, highest ever, performed Hajj this year.
Indian Ambassador Dr. Ausaf Sayeed said that Indian Hajj mission has started second phase of Hajj operation as pilgrims will start to return home from Saturday. The first flight will leave for Gaya in Bihar, returning of pilgrims will continue till September 15, according to Sayeed.
507 scheduled flights will be operated to 21 Indian cities to return passengers, he added.
Indian Ambassador along with Government Goodwill delegation leader Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali, erstwhile Nawab of Arcot in Tamilnadu, deputy leader Syed Ghayorul Hasan Rizvi, chairman of National Commission for Minorities, Indian Consul General Md. Noor Rahman Sheikh addressed press conference in Makkah on Tuesday evening to explain about this year’s Hajj.
According to him deaths of Indians during core hajj pilgrimage known in as masha’er in Islamic holy sites of Mina, Muzdalifah and Arafat in Makkah dropped significantly.
“This year, in last four days there were 11 deaths reported as compared with 21 in the same period of previous year”, he added.
so far total number of Indian pilgrims who died in Saudi Arabia reached to 55. Almost of them have died due to cardiac arrest and natural causes amid of high temperature.
Ambassador said that 45 pilgrims, above 90 years of age, including 101 years old Mrs. Attar Bibi, hailing from Punjab, who were classified as High Risk Group have performed Hajj as normally without any hassle.
Sayeed added that Indian government has deployed 349 doctors and paramedics from India to provide health care for visiting Indian pilgrims in holy cities in Saudi. Indian Hajj mission that works under ministry of minority affairs has established 80-bed hospitals in three locations in Makkah in addition to 16 branch dispensaries to treat sick pilgrims.
He revealed that Indian Medical team has treated 2,18,605 patients so far and the figure is likely rise in post-hajj.
Ambassador said that two births were recorded by Indian authorities during Hajj and both mother and new-born babies were in healthy condition.
Highlighting upon single women hajj, which is initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sayeed said that this year 2229 female pilgrims, who came for Hajj without male guardian, performed Hajj.
Envoy added that exclusive accommodation is being provided to single women and all their services starting from room service to bus transportation manned by 26 women staff that arrived here on deputation.