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This year's Haj congregation witnessed a tragic incident at Jamarat Bridge in Mina. More than 250 people, including 38 Pakistanis, died on the spot and about as many were injured, some of them seriously, while performing the ritual of throwing stones at the pillars that symbolise the Devil.

According to the Saudi Pilgrimage Affairs and Endowments Minister, Iyad bin Amin Madani, the tragedy happened when a large crowd rushed forward mindlessly, which resulted in the fall of those next to the stoning area, and those close behind.

The stampede continued for nearly 27 minutes before the authorities were able to control it using helicopters and police reinforcements to calm the crowd.

Unfortunate as it is, many of those who go for Haj fail to follow the simple rules of moving in one direction and staying in the queue. Which results in disastrous consequences.

This is not the first time that a number of precious human lives have been lost in a stampede during Haj. The worst incident took place in 1990 when 1,426 pilgrims were asphyxiated or trampled to death in a pedestrian tunnel in Makkah.

Notably, though, most of the previous stampedes happened at Mina, resulting in the death of 14 people, including six women, last year; 35 in 2001; and 118 in 1998.

The Saudi authorities have put a well-organised system in place to guide and assist the pilgrims. They have built separate ramps for the three spots where the stoning ritual has to be performed. Arrows pointing the direction the pilgrims are expected to take are also clearly visible.

The trouble starts when people ignore these signs and start moving in opposite directions. Apparently, that is what happened this time too. In fact, press reports say that the stampede occurred when pilgrims descended on the main pillar from all directions.

An estimated two million faithful had come from all parts of the world to perform the Haj. When there are so many people carrying out the same ritual in the same place, the danger of a stampede is always there.

Hence, the authorities say that they had advised the pilgrims to try to go to the Jamarat Bridge at different times. The advice though did not prove good enough.

It is not fair to leave everything to the Saudi authorities. All they can do is to provide the necessary facilities and also to ensure that things run in an orderly manner.

They have not been found to be wanting on these accounts. The governments of the countries who send people for Haj must also ensure that intending Hajis are fully aware of what they must or must not do. Simple things such as following the direction of arrows at Mina can help avoid causing obstructions in the flow of people, and hence possible stampedes.

Clearly, a better discipline among the pilgrims can prevent the recurrence of incidents involving rush and panic that have started to claim so many lives at regular intervals.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2004


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