DUBAI, Sept 17:
About 1.7 lakh Indian Haj pilgrims will arrive in Saudi Arabia this year and elaborate arrangements have been put in place to receive them.
The Consulate General of India has been making efforts to improve the services provided to Indian pilgrims. In all, 479 buildings have been hired to accommodate 125,000 pilgrims coming through the Haj Committee of India.
About 45,000 pilgrims will arrive through private tour operators.
Chairperson of Haj Committee Mohsina Kidwai yesterday winded up a three-day visit to Saudi Arabia to review preparations for this year’s Haj season.
Kidwai visited Mecca on Friday and inspected buildings to check readiness and other logistics. She held discussions with Indian Consul General Faiz Ahmad Kidwai and other officials on various aspects of Haj preparations.
In Medina, she evaluated the measures put in place for the welfare of Indian pilgrims. While expressing satisfaction over the arrangements, she instructed all concerned officials to serve pilgrims sincerely and dedicatedly.
She said that no stone should be left unturned for the service and welfare of Indian Hajis.
The first Air India flight carrying Indian pilgrims is scheduled to arrive in Medina from Kolkata today, while another flight from Ranchi will land at Jeddah in the evening.
The medical services extended by Indian Haj Mission include comprehensive lab testing, basic investigations, Radiographic investigation and Ultrasonography etc.
“Arrangements are being made to extend medical facility to pilgrims this year also. Besides one 60-bed hospital in Makkah which is set up every year, one more 30-bed hospital will be operational in Azizia area of Makkah to meet the medical requirement of about 65,000 pilgrims who will be staying in the area,” the Consulate said.
Special care will be taken of High Risk Group (pilgrims above 70 years) by preparing FIR for them on their arrival and maintaining proper record of their health condition.
They will be frequently checked up and their condition will be monitored constantly. This year an agency has been engaged to supply new bed sheets, pillow covers, buckets, mug, broom-brush, brush with pan and toilet brush.
A reputed agency has been engaged to provide cleaning/ plumbing services and other repair services of air conditioners, lift, etc in emergency.
Indian pilgrims will also be provided Saudi Telecom Company’s SIM cards before they leave India, which have been pre-loaded with contact numbers of all concerned officials of the Consulate and the relatives will have the Saudi contact number of the pilgrims in advance. (PTI)
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