In a major move to ensure the safety of Hajj pilgrims, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will introduce a luggage storage facility near the Jamrat area. The idea is to avoid congestion in the stoning area, a senior government official told Arab News yesterday. “Experience has shown that some of the unfortunate incidents in the stoning area are mainly due to pilgrims carrying their luggage while performing the rituals,” Habib M. Zein Al-Abideen, Deputy Minister of Municipal and Rural affairs, said. He was speaking at the conclusion of a three-day workshop on “Arrangements at the Jamrat area and Bridge during the Coming Hajj Season.” The delegates at the workshop also discussed matters relating to problems due to squatters in Mina and mobilization of pilgrims within the area. More than 3 million pilgrims gather in the tent city of Mina every year for a period of three days to stone the devil and sleep overnight after staying in Arafat and Muzdalifah. --MORE
