Sami Al-Maghamsi Okaz/Saudi Gazette MADINAH – Around 150,000 pilgrims arrived in Madinah as of Tuesday after performing their Haj rites. It is expected that over 800,000 will arrive in Madinah over the next few days. Security officers were positioned in several locations around the central area of the Prophet's Mosque and the roads leading to it. They were put on alert to respond to any emergency or deal with any situation. Inside the Prophet's Mosque, security officers took their positions while patrol aircraft took off for routine flights over Madinah to keep a close eye on the flow of traffic and pilgrims and make sure everything was safe. Col. Muhammad Ash Shanbari, director of the local Traffic Administration, said small vehicles and minibuses are not allowed to enter the central area half an hour before and after each prayer. Several pathways at King Faisal Road have been designed for pilgrims, he added. “Our goal is to make the movement of pilgrims to and from the Prophet's Mosque as smooth as possible.” He encouraged all drivers and pilgrims to cooperate with traffic officers and comply with the rules and instructions for their own protection. He also urged traffic officers to dedicate themselves to serving pilgrims and ensure they enjoy their visit to Madinah. The Presidency of the Two Holy Mosques' Affairs has mobilized over 600 female personnel to serve pilgrims inside the Prophet's Mosque. Translators, monitors, and guides are among the workers. The presidency's plan focused on providing elevators inside women's sections for the elderly and physically-challenged and guidance offices outside in the courtyards. Elderly and disabled female pilgrims can borrow electric wheelchairs from service offices. More than a thousand pamphlets and booklets in different languages have been distributed to pilgrims.
