Minister of Haj Bandar Hajjar shares a lighter moment with Mehbooba Mufti Sayeed, leader of India's Haj goodwill delegation, during a reception at his office in Makkah on Sunday. Anwar Mohammed Khan, deputy leader of the delegation, Consul General B.S. Mubarak, and Deputy Consul General and Haj Consul Muhammad Noor Rahman Sheikh are also seen. — Courtesy photo Hassan Cheruppa Saudi Gazette
MAKKAH — Mehbooba Mufti Sayeed, leader of India's Haj goodwill delegation, thanked Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman for his humanitarian gesture of announcing compensation for the bereaved families of those who died and were injured in the recent Makkah crane crash. During a meeting with Minister of Haj Bandar Hajjar here on Sunday, she also conveyed condolences of the Indian government and people to the Saudi government and people as well as to the family members of the dead on the mishap in which 111 pilgrims, including 12 Indians, were killed. Anwar Mohammed Khan, deputy leader of the delegation, Consul General B.S. Mubarak, Deputy Consul General, and Haj Consul Muhammad Noor Rahman Sheikh, also attended the meeting. Mehbooba lauded Saudi health authorities for the best care and treatment being extended to those injured in the accident, according to Mubarak. Mehbooba, who is member of parliament and president of Jammu & Kashmir's ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), extended Hajjar an invitation to visit India, especially her state of Jammu & Kashmir, and to which the minister responded favorably, Mubarak told Saudi Gazette. Mehbooba and Khan on Sunday visited five Indian women pilgrims who lost their spouses in the crane tragedy, and consoled them. They also paid a visit to the Rubat of Arcot of Nawab. They commended the arrangements made by the Central Haj Committee and the Indian Haj Mission for bringing close relatives of some of the dead and injured Indian pilgrims to accompany the bereaved spouses and the injured. The delegation also visited medical facilities of the Indian Haj Mission in Makkah. They interacted with inpatients and outpatients as well as doctors and paramedics at the 40-bed hospitals in Makkah and Aziziyah. The delegation was received at the hospitals by Makkah Haj mission in charge Muhammad Abdul Salam, Dr. Muhammad Abid Ajmer, head of the Indian medical mission, Dr. Muhammad Shakeel, medical coordinator, and Dr. Athar Jamil, hospital in charge, and Dr. Shakeel Ahmed. The team also visited accommodation of pilgrims and reviewed the offered facilities
