RIYADH: India’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Suhel Ajaz Khan, has praised Saudi Arabia for the services provided for pilgrims during this year’s Hajj.
Khan, who performed Hajj this year and helped his nation’s pilgrims, told Arab News: “We work very closely with the Saudi Health Ministry and other authorities in providing best medical services to our pilgrims.”
“We are thankful to all the cooperation we receive from the Saudi authorities in this regard. Saudi authorities are also deploying huge resources in helping the pilgrims of all nationalities with medical emergencies and other medical issues,” he added.
Khan said 175,000 Indian Muslims performed the pilgrimage this year, with officials assisting them from May 9. The operation ends on July 22 when the last group will leave the Kingdom.
Khan said the Indian Haj mission made extensive arrangements for the health and wellbeing of the country’s pilgrims.
“In coordination with the Ministry of Minority Affairs, a contingent of about 350 doctors and paramedics and sufficient quantities of medicines and medical equipment were deployed during the Hajj.
“Two medical camps were set up in Mina while one camp was set up in Arafat. In addition, doctors and paramedics were also deployed in each service center and camps in Mina.”
Commenting on the reported deaths of Indian pilgrims during the Hajj, Khan said: “This is the summertime and temperatures go quite high during the day. However, the reports of death among the Indian pilgrims due to heat wave have been exaggerated.”
“A total of six deaths were reported during the Day of Arafat, as against a much higher number being quoted in some media reports,” he said.
Four people died due to accidents, while others succumbed because of illness and natural causes, he added.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs said last Friday that 98 nationals died while performing the Hajj due to high temperatures, natural causes, chronic illness and old age.
