KSA details compensation for Makkah crane accident

The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz has issued an order to pay assistance to the families of the deceased as well as to those injured in the crane accident at the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

The family of the deceased or those who suffered permanent disability will receive SR1 million (US$267,000) and individuals who suffered other injuries will receive SR500,000 (US$133,333) in assistance. King Salman also issued directives that such payment would not deprive the families of the victims from filing private claims before the competent judicial authorities.

The King also issued directives to host two family members of the deceased as the King's guests to perform Hajj next year. The injured who cannot perform Hajj this year can perform Hajj next year as the King's guests. The families of those hospitalised will be granted visas to take care of the injured during the remaining period of Hajj.

The report by the Accident Investigation Committee ruled out foul play, staying that the main reason for the accident was strong winds.

posted from Bloggeroid

India's MEA, Pakistan's Ministry of Religious Affairs update on Makkah situation

The Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs, India said on 12 September that 19 Indian Hajj pilgrims are reported to be injured, none critically.

A further two Indians have passed away, one from West Bengal and the other from Kerala.

Doctors, paramedics and Arabic interpreters are deployed in all Government hospitals to monitor the cases of Indian pilgrims admitted in the hospitals, the MEA said. The Consul General and the Deputy Consul General have visited the pilgrims admitted in the hospitals, and met with the Saudi Assistant Health Minister Dr Hamad Mohammed to ensure proper medical facilities to the pilgrims.

Pakistan's Ministry of Religious Affairs published a list of 23 pilgrims affected by the accident, at Al-Noor Specialist Hospital, King Faisal Al- Shisha Hospital and King Abdul Aziz (Al-Zahir) Hospital, all in Makkah. Of these, the injuries of 17 were listed with little information on the remaining six.

The Hajj will continue as scheduled.

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View the affected pilgrims' details

posted from Bloggeroid

Bahrain pilgrims unhurt in Makkah crane accident

The Bahrain News Agency reports that Bahrain pilgrims in KSA for the Hajj were unhurt in the crane accident at Makkah's Grand Mosque.

Bahrain Hajj Delegation Chairman Shaikh Adnan Al-Qattan said that 600 pilgrims and administrators registered with thirteen contractors are at Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, in addition to a number of contractors’ administrators and workers in Makkah.

Shaikh Adnan said that batches of Bahrain pilgrims will continue heading to KSA until September 17.

Updates come in for Southeast Asian pilgrims after Makkah crane crash

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore, has reported that Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS) representatives in Makkah, KSA, have confirmed that the Singapore Hajj pilgrims under their charge are safe after reports of a building crane collapsing onto the Masjid Al-Haram (Grand Mosque) in Makkah, KSA at about 10pm local time.

The ministry said in a statement online: "We are deeply shocked and saddened to hear of the tragic accident in the Grand Mosque in Makkah. We would like to convey our deepest condolences to the people of Saudi Arabia, the Saudi government and the families of the victims...As of now, there are no reports of any Singaporean casualties."

Malaysia's Bernama news agency reported that 10 Malaysian pilgrims have been injured, and six not accounted for. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom was quoted on saying that the injured seven men and three women are being treated at hospitals in KSA, at the Tabung Haji (TH) Medical Centre while one was allowed to return to the hotel.

TH was working with the Southeast Asian Muasassah (pilgrim management body) to look for the six missing pilgrims - two men and four women, he added.

Thirty-three Indonesian pilgrims were affected by the fall. The Ministry of Religious Affairs in Indonesia has released a list of names, updated 12 September 1am,  which include two deaths. The hotline to call is +966 5 4360 3154.

The General Directorate of Civil Defense (GDCD), Ministry of the Interior, KSA, tweeted the news of a crane collapsing onto the Masjid Al-Haram when the mosque would have been filled with worshippers for Friday prayers. Strong winds had caused the fall, the GDCD said on 12 September. News of injuries and deaths were quickly updated by the @KSA_998 Twitter account (in Arabic, but most software provides translations), reaching 201 injured and 107 dead as of 5.41am, 12 September Singapore time. The account is providing updates, with pictures, frequently.

KSA beefed up medical resources ahead of the Hajj, according to Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Health.

KSA's General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) reported that as of 9 September, 796,581 pilgrims had arrived in the Kingdom since the beginning of this year’s Hajj season.  Of these, 780,474 pilgrims arrived by air, 9,039 pilgrims by land, and 7,068 pilgrims by sea.  

Hashtag for TH: #haji1436H

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