Lok Sabha Question No. 341 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-24
Subject: Indian Pilgrims in Hajj 2024
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Smt. Sajda Ahmed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 341

ANSWERED ON 24.07.2024

## INDIAN PILGRIMS IN HAJJ 2024

## 341. SMT. SAJDA AHMED:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the Indian pilgrims who died in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia during Hajj 2024 including the reasons for their deaths;

(b) the details of measures taken by the Hajj Committee of India to provide better facilities for Indian pilgrims in Mecca and Madina; and

(c) whether the Government is reviewing and improving preparations for future Hajj events to address issues related to climate change and to ensure the well-being of pilgrims?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a)  As of 21 st July 2024, 201 Indians pilgrims have died during Haj pilgrimage 2024 with a majority of them attributed to cardio-respiratory and cardio-pulmonary arrests. It is to further state  that  more  than 70% of the total fatalities have occurred among pilgrims aged 60 and above.

(b)  and  (c)  The  Government  of  India  has  placed  significant  emphasis  on  the  successful conduct  of  Haj  Operations  and  ensuring  the  safety  and  well-being  of  Indian  pilgrims. Government of India is committed to improve the overall Haj experience of the Indian Haj Pilgrims. In pursuit of this objective, a number of progressive reforms have been introduced in the last few years, which has led to qualitative improvement in Haj experience.

In  Haj-2024, the number of Khadim-ul-Hujjaj (KuH) deployed by Haj Committee of India sent to assist the pilgrims has been increased to 641 which is more than double the previous year. Even the number of temporary deputationists (administrative and medical) deployed by Government of India for Haj management and administration was increased to 620 in Haj2024 from 461 during Haj-2023.

Special provisions were made for the 4,558 ladies who travelled to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia  (KSA),  by  providing  them  dedicated  buildings  for  accommodation  as  well  as dedicated medical services.

In order to cope with inclement and adverse climatic conditions of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,  specific  interventions  have  been  introduced.  At  Makkah,  3  medical  centres  with  a capacity of 100 beds were operationalised along with 14 medical dispensaries, a Command Control Centre, 20 Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances and a 24 hour helpline were made available 24 X 7, during the entire Haj period. At Madinah, a 20 bedded medical centre was established along with 2 dispensaries, supported by a Control Command Centre, 4 Basic Life Support (BLS) ambulances and a 24 hour helpline. A medical dispensary and helpline was also operationalised at Jeddah Haj Terminal to cater to the pilgrims' healthcare requirements at  the  time  of  arrival/departure.  For  the  first  time,  emergency  teams  were  deployed  at Haramain High-Speed Railway stations, providing on-ground medical assistance. A dedicated task force consisting of six teams, provided medical aid during Friday prayers at the Holy Mosque. All the dedicated helplines were integrated with the Haj Suvidha App to receive Emergency/SOS medical calls.

The Haj Suvidha App was launched during Haj-2024 with the objective of leveraging Information Technology towards providing greater ease and convenience to the Indian Haj pilgrims  by  facilitating  access  to  training  content,  accommodation/flight/baggage  details, emergency helpline (SOS), grievance redressal, feedback, language translation and miscellaneous  information related to the pilgrimage. The  App  also  provided  for an administrative  interface  for  the  Government  of  India  in  order  to  ensure  prompt  grievance redressal.  With  the  help  of  the  App,  various  instances  of  medical  emergencies,  missing pilgrims,  grievances  &  SOS  messages  have  been  handled  thereby  saving  precious  lives. Further, the number of missing baggage cases have reduced drastically due to the App.

For the Indian pilgrims, satisfactory arrangements were made for hassle-free reception at  airports  in  Jeddah  &  Madinah,  comfortable  stay  in  good  accommodation  at  Makkah  & Madinah, and transportation using comfortable buses. Arrangements in Mashaer area during core- Haj period included stay, meals and transportation. 486 buildings were hired in Makkah for  accommodation  and  round  the  clock  transport  services  through  buses  was  provided  to Indian  Haj  pilgrims  from  their  accommodation  in  Makkah  to  Haram  Sharif.  India  was  the only  country  which  provided  round  the  clock  bus  services  within  Makkah  as  other.  In Madinah,  95%  of  accommodation  for  Indian  pilgrims  was  in  Markazia  area,  i.e.  the  area preferred due to its proximity to holy cites.

For the  first  time,  33,169  Haj  Pilgrims  landing  at  Jeddah  proceeded  to  Makkah  by High Speed train thereby reducing the time of travel by 3hrs.

Government of India continues to review and improve facilities promoting ease and convenience to the Indian pilgrims, based on the feedback/ experience from previous Haj and inputs from different stakeholders. The ambit of review and reform includes every aspect of Haj management, including issues related to climate change and to ensure the overall wellbeing of the pilgrims.

*****