HAJ
Minister of State for Law and Justice's Statement
On Mina Tragedy in Parliament, 7 May, 1997(Extracts)
The grievous loss of life and injuries to our Haj pilgrims from the fire caused profound shock and sorrow to the entire nation.
Approximately 81,000 Indian nationals participated in the Haj this year. Of these, 53,664 came through the Central Haj Committee. The balance of approximately 27,000 came through tour operators, or from other countries or were residents in Saudi Arabia. The total number of pilgrims from all countries who performed Haj this year is approximately a little under 2 million.
As of today, the total number of Indian nationals identified as dead is 119 and the number of those reported missing is 111. Further 148 persons are receiving treatment for burns in the Saudi Government hospitals. In addition, another 265 persons were injured in the fire and its after-math. Of these 172 persons are receiving treatment from the Indian medical mission in Mecca. Many of the injured have been discharged after treatment and some of these persons have since returned to India. The operation for identifying the deceased and to locate the missing is continuing.
When the pilgrims re-assembled in the encampment in Mina on April 17 the Embassy and the Consulate General surveyed the camp and prepared a tentative list of the missing. A list of the injured was also prepared through visits to the hospital where they were being treated. Simultaneously identification of bodies kept in the mortuaries under the supervision of the Saudi authorities also took place on a continuous basis (but) many bodies were charred beyond recognition. A more precise list of the missing was prepared after our pilgrims returned to Mecca on the evening of 19 April at the end of the Haj rites ... through systematic visits by our official teams to all the residential units allotted to our pilgrims and thorough verification and counting of individuals. On this basis the updated figures for those who are as yet unaccounted for is 111.
Prime Minister has announced an ex-gratia relief payment of Rupees One lakh to each of the next of kin of dead, and free treatment to the injured in Government hospitals. Rs. 10,000/- has been disbursed to each of the injured pilgrims presently receiving treatment in Saudi Arabia. The pilgrims who have been permanently disabled due to the fire will be given Rs. one lakh each. Government also offered to transport the bodies of the deceased pilgrims back to India free of cost. The next of the kin of the pilgrims who have died have conveyed that they would wish the bodies to be buried in Mecca for religious reasons.
I would like to record my appreciation of the generous and effective assistance and relief efforts of the Indian community, in Jeddah. Prime Minister has appointed a two-member Ministerial Committee consisting of Shri C.M. Ibrahim and Shri Maqbool Dar to oversee the implementation of relief measures.
A four-member team comprising of three sitting MPs and one former MP visited Saudi Arabia on April 25 to May 1. They held discussions with the Chairman of the South Asian Moussassa. The team has submitted a report to the Government which is being studied.
At present there is no requirement for private tour operators to intimate to Government or to the Central Haj Committee, particulars of the pilgrims who are travelling under their arrangements to Saudi Arabia, for the Haj. Approximately 27,000 out of the total of 81,000 Haj pilgrims from India fall in this category. Lack of information on these pilgrims has hampered the identification of the dead (and) the location of the missing. For the future, Government is considering measures for filling this lacuna, i.e. by obtaining advance details of Haj pilgrims travelling under arrangements made by private tour opera tors, as well as regulating their work. In all our operations we received full cooperation from the concerned Saudi Arabian authorities responsible for management of the Haj. The medical treatment and care made available by the Saudi hospitals to our injured pilgrims won praise from the pilgrims as well as the team that visited Saudi Arabia.
As regards the question of compensation it is not the practice of the Saudi Government to provide compensation in tragic events of this nature. We are examining long-term measures such as provision of compulsory insurance to cover such unforeseen events Reports in the press on April 24 attributed certain views to the Indian Consul General in Jeddah about the tragic death of Indian pilgrims in the Mina fire. This matter has been examined very carefully and it is concluded that these views appear to be derived from information provided by a few of the injured relating to the conduct of an individual gate keeper. No broad generalisations can be made on this basis.
The accidental fire at Mina and its immediate after- math are totally unforeseen. We are studying the event in detail to work out the steps required to avert such disaster in future.
On Haj Goodwill Team
Government has not received complaints from Haj returnees against the Goodwill team. (Source: LSUQ No. 5122 dated 7 May, 1997 by D. Singh & R.R. Singh)
90% Indian Casualties Relate to Camp 59 because of Locked Gate
Saudi Arabian Government or Haj Authorities Not to Blame Syed Shahabuddin's Statement on Mina Tragedy
The fire in Mina near Makkah Mukarramah on 15 April 1997 in which hundreds of pilgrims died or were injured has agonized the entire humanity, cutting across the barriers of religion, race, language, geography or nationality. Whatever the cause, the majority of the victims belong to the sub-continent. In our case, the confirmed death toll now stands at 92 but nearly 150 pilgrims remain untraced and a majority of them should be presumed to be dead. Some hundreds are still hospitalised. We hope and pray for their recovery.
Mina is a small valley some 10 Km from the Holy Kaaba in Makkah Mukarramah where Haj pilgrims gather on the day before the day, they congregate in Arafat for the Haj and where they reside for 3 days on return from Arafat before going back to Makkah. For these 5 days Mina turns into a tent city and with tent camps erected along the 3 major roads which cross the valley from end to the other. Each Moallim (Pilgrim Guide) recognised by the Saudi Arabian authorities, is allotted a site in Mina for the pilgrims placed in his charge. On an average each Moallim is allotted about 6,000 Pilgrims. Each tent is occupied by 8-15 pilgrims. Each Moallims Camp is enclosed with corrugated sheets with an iron grill gate opening on the road side.
The total number of pilgrims this year is estimated at about 2 million of which the Indian pilgrims numbered 90,000. About 55,000 were registered with the Haj Committee, about 25,000 were taken by Haj tour operators and about 10,000 came from other parts of the world. The Saudi Arabian authorities had nominated 16 Moallims, each of whom had been charged with 4-7 thousand pilgrims. The pilgrim has no choice in the matter.
70,000 tents are reported to have been burnt in the fire which spread widely and rapidly due to high winds. Roughly, 1/3rd of the pilgrim body was affected. Most of them saved themselves by escaping from their Camps in time towards Arafat or Makkah or taking shelter in unaffected area of Mina itself. The fire was brought under control in 4-5 hours.
90-95% of Indian casualties - death or serious burn took place in Camp 59. This was largely due to the act of omission by the Camp in charge or his staff; not to open the iron gate on the road side. Some pilgrims tried to escape by climbing up the hill on the back and failed. Most finally broke through the iron sheet fencing and saved themselves. In other 8 camps 51-58, which have been gutted, and in the Embassy of India Camp, situated between 51 and 52, there have been very few casualties because of timely evacuation of the pilgrims, including myself and my family through the open gate. Thus, the constructive responsibility lies on the Moallim of Camp 59 for the inaction or negligence of his staff. It would not be proper to blame the Government of Saudi Arabia or the Saudi Arabian Haj Authorities or even the Moallim as a class.
However, the Government of Saudi Arabia has instituted an inquiry into the cause of the fire and the circumstances resulting in casualties. We await the report. Based on my 34 years of experience of Haj affairs I would however like to make some suggestions without going into the basic question of management of Haj in India and Saudi Arabia, for the consideration of the authorities concerned.
1) Camp sites in Mina should be allotted by draw of lots to different countries so that the same country does not enjoy locational advantage from year to year.
2) Existing regulations and guidelines regarding non-occupation of public spaces, traffic control, camp lay-out, fire control, etc. should be strictly enforced by the Saudi Arabian authorities.
3) The use of kerosene or gas stove in the camps should be absolutely banned
4) Supply of standard food packets at fixed prices should be arranged throughout Mina.
5) Moallim may be given space outside Mina or in the upper reaches to establish mass kitchens to supply cooked food to their pilgrims if they wish.
6) Government of India should introduce a system for registration of Haj tour operators so that the particulars of their clients, name, address in India and Saudi Arabia, Passport No. and name of the Moallim are known to Haj Committee in India and Consulate General Of India in Jeddah.
7) Government of India should ask Haj Committee immediately to initiate action for Haj 1998 so that intending pilgrims are listed and divided into batches for arranging flight and accommodation in Makkah 6 months before the Haj and the relative information is made available to the pilgrims in advance. Suitable accommodation in Makkah should be booked in 1998 immediately after 1997 Haj season is over.
In relation to those who have suffered in the fire I would like to place on record my deep appreciation for the concern felt and relief measures already taken by the Government of India, the Embassy of India and its Consulate General of India in Jeddah and the Indian community in Jeddah.
I would however request the Prime Minister to offer necessary facilities for performing Haj for 1998 to the survivors, who could not reach Arafat because of hospitalisation and to the spouse or descendent of those who have lost their lives for Haj-e-Badal I also extend my deep personal condolences to the affected families.
