Saudi policemen monitor screens connected to cameras set up at all the holy places in Makkah. — Reuters Okaz/Saudi Gazette HOLY SITES — Civil Defense forces are using a new hi-tech crowd monitoring system to protect Haj pilgrims from injury. The cutting edge innovation was crucial in helping prevent any stampedes during this year's Haj. Under the system, state-of-the-art surveillance cameras monitor crowds crossing the Jamarat Bridge. The images were fed into computers which gauge crowd density by counting the number of pilgrims per square meter. Remote sensing devices have also been installed on the Jamarat Bridge to boost precautionary measures. Commander of the Civil Defense at the Jamarat Bridge, Col. Nasser Bin Ali Al-Nahari said: “Our Control Room relays live images which are digitally analyzed to obtain precise information on the number of pilgrims at each location and ensure that crowds do not exceed the capacity of the location.” Field teams rush to crowded locations to disperse the crowds and reduce the risk of anyone being crushed. As of Tuesday more than 50 old and sick pilgrims required evacuation and medical treatment for exhaustion. They were provided with first aid through the Civil Defense and Red Crescent first aid teams. Director of the Civil Protection Department Lt. Col. Dr. Yahya Dammas Al-Ghamdi said: “Crowd monitoring at the Jamarat Bridge on the day of Eid Al-Adha went very well.” He commended the Civil Protection teams saying: “The teams posted at high-risk locations ensured the security and safety of pilgrims.” The Jamarat site in Mina has seen serious incidents in the past, including a stampede in 1990 that killed 1,426 people and one in 2004 that killed 244. __
