JEDDAH, Oct 25(Arab News): The General Administration for Domestic Pilgrims has called on all companies providing services to pilgrims to guarantee the safety of those performing Haj this year.
It emphasized that extra care must be taken when pilgrims go for the ritual pebble throwing at the Jamrat or to the Grand Mosque while Haj is in progress.
"We hope that all service providing companies will stick to the time schedule for the stone throwing at Jamrat,” a statement from the administration said.
“The companies should also instruct pilgrims not to rush from Mina on Dul Hijjah 12, the third day after praying at Arafat, so that pilgrims will avoid potentially dangerous overcrowding at stone throwing locations. They should leave safely the next day.”
The general administration also urged companies to follow all the guidelines issued this year.
According to the guidelines, satellite television channels should not be shown inside pilgrim tents.
On the other hand, Saudi TV can be shown, while a tent in each of the men and women's sections of the camps should be allocated for medical care and the names of the medical team should be displayed with a copy of the relevant health department’s approval.
There should also be a sufficient number of uniformed workers to undertake cleaning and other necessary services, at the ratio of one laborer to every 30 pilgrims. The laborers should carry cards certifying they are healthy.
The guidelines also stipulate that pilgrims should be charged reasonably for transportation, lodging, food and other services as agreed with the pilgrims.
The buses used for pilgrim transportation should be fit for the purpose, air-conditioned, comfortable and with all safety arrangements in place. A guide familiar with the roads in the holy sites should aboard every bus.
The ministry’s directions also urged pilgrims or anyone else who observes any shortcoming in the services offered by a company to complain to the Ministry of Haj not later than Muharram 15 (Dec. 21).
In another development, the electricity company maintaining the power supply to the holy sites has told the Ministry of Haj that some domestic pilgrim service companies were installing electrical equipment, causing overloads and a disruption of power supply.
The company also complained that some service providers were installing new connections without official approval, compromising safety measures, while others were installing panels on electricity meters and other facilities, which would make rapid access to such equipment in times of emergency impossible.