India to send second largest Haj team this year

Last year, India had sent nearly 1,00,000 Haj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia the largest contingent from any country.

Giving some statistics on India8217;s preparations for the Haj, Amanullah said 190 flights carrying 72,000 pilgrims sponsored by the central Haj committee would be coming in from Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Calcutta, Bangalore, Kochi and Ahmedabad.

Additionally, about 48,000 pilgrims were expected to come either on their own or through tour operators from India on various flights.

He said the Indian Government had deputed 364 officers from India for duty during Haj to help the consulate general of India in the management of Haj and to look after the welfare of pilgrims. They include 106 doctors, 113 paramedical staff and 145 administrative officers.

He said the pilgrims who had already arrived were now going to Medina after they have performed the Umrah at Mecca. They would stay in Medina for eight days and then return to Mecca.

Amanullah said depending on the sighting of the moon, the Haj would be performed in the following manner: March 14: Movement to Mina March 15: movement to Arafat and movement at night to Muzdalifah March 16: Movement back to Mina March 17 and March 18: Stay at Mina and March 19: Optional stay at Mina.

Amanullah said Haj committee pilgrims accommodation in Mecca was selected by building selection team members who came from India from various state and central haj committees. The parameters and rate of accommodation were decided by the central haj committee.

The pilgrims accommodation were decided by the central Haj committee by giving contract to contractor groups in Medina. The average stay of haj committee pilgrims in the kingdom during haj was 43 days, he added.Meanwhile, news reports said final touches were being given by the Saudi authorities to preparations for the annual pilgrimage.

The custodian of the holy shrines, King Fahd bin Abdul Aziz, this week ordered all government departments to mobilise fully to ensure a successful season in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina.

A huge safety project was nearing completion with work being carried out round the clock. The 720 million dollars project, started in 1997, includes erecting tens of thousands of fire-proof tents, building giant water reservoirs to fight fires, installing cooling systems and sanitation facilities.

Old tents, which catch fire easily and gas stoves, have been banned since a 1997 disaster when 343 pilgrims were killed as a blaze started by a stove swept through a tent camp in Mina.

This is the first time that India is sending such a large contingent. The last time India sent such a massive team was in 1982. Thereafter, the number of pilgrims declined due to problems arising out of transportation.