Srinagar- With over 1000 pilgrims reportedly dead during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, Kashmiri pilgrims have alleged that the fatalities are a result of the inadequate arrangements by the Saudi authorities.
At least 68 Indian pilgrims have died, including 10 from Jammu and Kashmir—eight females and two males. Six of these pilgrims are from Srinagar district, two from Kulgam and one from Jammu and Baramulla each.
“The temperature has been soaring, and unfortunately, ten pilgrims from Kashmir including a couple from Srinagar have succumbed to heat stroke,” a senior Jammu and Kashmir Hajj officer said.
The official said that among the ten deceased includes a Srinagar based couple too.
The situation has sparked outrage and concern among Kashmiri pilgrims who have called the Saudi government incapable of carrying out the pilgrimage.
Speaking to the Kashmir Observer from Saudi Arabia, Dr. Adeel Hussain, a pilgrim from Kashmir highlighted some issues faced by the pilgrims.
“There was non-availability of drinking water at crucial points like the Jamarat Building, even packed water was not available which exacerbated the suffering of the pilgrims,” he said.
He alleged the closure of the metro train at essential times, particularly when pilgrims needed to travel from Muzdalifah to Jamarat, added to the chaos. “The absence of cooling points at Muzdalifah and Jamarat further worsened the situation, leaving many vulnerable to heatstroke,” he added.
“The lack of medical staff and ambulances at necessary points like Muzdalifah and Jamarat is another major issue. There is a severe shortage of medical personnel and ambulances, which hindered timely medical assistance to those in need,” Dr Hussain said.
He also criticized the non-availability of guiding staff for pilgrims who got separated from their groups and the closure of emergency exit points at Jamarat.
Another point was the mismanagement and the inability to properly manage the crowds were significant concerns. “The security personnel failed to manage the crowds efficiently, leading to chaos. The arrogant behavior of police personnel, especially when pilgrims attempted to take shortcuts to avoid the intense heat, was unacceptable,it was another reason for pilgrims insecurity,” he stated.
“We saw an elderly woman dying on the roadside but we could not do anything. The security personnel deployed did nothing to save her life. I can’t get over what I have seen. Saudi authorities are incapable of managing the situation,” Shafiq Mir, a pilgrim said.
Shafiq further pointed out the lack of special facilities for vulnerable pilgrims, including the elderly and physically challenged individuals, particularly females.
“There were no special provisions for the most vulnerable pilgrims and the non-availability of translators added to the difficulties of pilgrims, leaving many pilgrims unable to communicate their needs and seek help effectively.”
While Saudi authorities claim to have implemented measures to address the extreme heat, including shaded areas, water points, and improved healthcare capacity, pilgrims believe these efforts were insufficient in the face of the severe conditions.
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