Mina stampede street to be a direct road to Jamarat

Mina stampede street to be a direct road to Jamarat

MAKKAH — The street No. 206, which was a scene of stampede that killed a number of pilgrims during last year’s Haj, will be made a direct road to the Jamarat area to avoid any overcrowding of pilgrims.

Quoting informed sources, Makkah Arabic daily said on Sunday that pilgrims using this new road will not have to cross any intersections and will directly access the Jamarat area. The sources said the project, which is being implemented by the Authority for the Development of Makkah and the Holy Sites, will be completed on the first day of Dhul Hijja (September 2).

The street was a walkway for pedestrians which ended in a cul-de-sac at which pilgrims will either have to turn right or left to continue their path to the Jamarat. The sources said a number of pilgrims changed course last year reversing their path which resulted in the deadly stampede.

They said a number of tents which block the road will be dismantled and shifted to another area in Mina which has become spacious after government offices were relocated outside the tent city.

Meanwhile, the Makkah municipality has completed its operational plan for Haj by allocating 27 service centers in the Holy Sites consisting of 22 in Mina, three in Muzdalifah and two in Arafat. The centers will undertake the general cleaning, observe environmental health and ensure the safety of food being provided to pilgrims. They will also monitor the tents to curb the entry of outsiders.

On the other hand, temperature in the tents in Mina will be brought down from 33 degrees Celsius to 21 degrees during the year’s Haj thanks to a new type of air conditioners developed by an Australian company.

The company was contracted by the Public Investments Fund (PIF) of the Finance Ministry which has been responsible for the installation of air conditioners in the tents in Mina.

Article by: saudigazette.com.sa