AlHijjah 10, 1432, Nov 6, 2011, SPA -- Major General Mansour Al-Turki, Interior Ministry spokesman, described pilgrims U-turn journey from Arafat, the peak of Hajj, to Mina where they are observing the three-day Al-Tashreeq ritual on the way to Makkah to say goodbye as very smooth. In his daily briefing, Al-Turki lauded the traffic plan, particularly the decision to bar vehicles of less than 25 passengers capacity from entering Hajj areas and allocating separate lanes for vehicles and pedestrians. He said Al-Mashaer (sacred places) train has considerably contributed to transporting big numbers of pilgrims to the fourth story of the Jamarat, noting that 90 percent of pilgrims were successfully able to throw their stones by noon today. In response to a question, he said pilgrims who tried to violate Hajj regulations through infiltrating to Hajj area without having obtained the necessary official permission have been sent back, but those who organized their faked journey through providing them with forged permissions or public transportation or promised to provide the pilgrims with necessary facilities in the sacred places would be subject to investigation and punishment. He categorically denied reports on the existence of an extraordinary gatherings in the Jamarat area today. For his part, the spokesman of the Ministry of Health Dr. Khalid Mirghalani disclosed that during Hajj 305 heart operations have been performed for sick pilgrims as well as 20 open heart surgeries, 30 gastric operations and 30 kidney dialysis. As many as 12458 drivers were subject to doping tests, where very few proved positive and were disqualified. He said 98 percent of pilgrims coming from outside have had proper vaccinations at home. For his part, Lieutenant Abdullah Al-Harthi, spokesman of the Civil Defense, reported that 361 pilgrims found exhausted or fainting were given first aid on the spot. The spokesman for the Saudi Arabia Red Crescent said the number of cases attracting the civil defense interference in Mina have increased in comparison to last year. However, they have been contained, thanks to the civil defense state-of-the-art equipment and skillful crews.
