The National Hajj Committee has assured Muslims participating in this year’s Hajj a safe pilgrimage.
The assurance comes on the back of last year’s stampede during the Haji that saw several pilgrims’ dead.
Last year at least at least 717 people died in a stampede near the holy city of Mecca.
About 863 people were also injured in the incident at Mina, which occurred as two million pilgrims were taking part in the Hajj’s last major rite.
[contextly_sidebar id=”ahL1ecrcSUk5AftsYPgT1o3qrEPZII0r”]It was the deadliest incident to occur during the pilgrimage in 25 years.
“This year, Saudi Arabia have developed a new strategy where each pilgrim will get a gadget to identify pilgrims; where they are coming from, the language they speak, and that particular gadget would help to monitor and evaluate pilgrims when they are participating in this year’s rituals,” Alhaji Mohammed Amin Lamptey, Deputy Public Relations Officer of the National Hajj Committee told CitiNews in an interview.
First flight to Mecca
Barring any hitches the first batch of 500 out of 1500 Muslim Pilgrims from the three Northern Regions will tomorrow fly direct from the Tamale International Airport to Jedda, Saudi Arabia.
The pilgrims who will be flown in three batches from tomorrow to Sunday will travel via Saudi Airline, Fly Nas.
This is parts of efforts by government to reduce the stress that pilgrims go through before embarking on the holy Pilgrimage to Mecca.
‘’Everything about the refurbishment of the Tamale Airport has been done; so far we are okay with the airport and so Fly Nas who are our airline partners from Saudi Arabia came to inspect the facility; they are satisfied and have approved it’’ Alhaji Amin Lamptey said.
Citi News understands a total of 11 flights will be made this year to get the pilgrims to Mecca; the three Northern Regions will have 3 flights while the south will have 8 flights via the Kotoka International Airport. A total of 5424 pilgrims are expected to be flown to the holy city this year by August 31 2016.
The main event will be held from 9th September to 15th September 2016.
–
By: Lorrencia Nkrumah/citifmonline.com/Ghana