Lok Sabha Question No. 1650 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-09
Subject: Haj Accidents
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: MIDHUN REDDY, KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY, MEKAPATI RAJAMOHAN REDDY, P.R. SUNDARAM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1650 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.12.2015

## HAJ ACCIDENTS

1650.

SHRI P.V.MIDHUN REDDY:

SHRI PRABHAKAR REDDY KOTHA:

SHRI M.RAJA MOHAN REDDY:

SHRI P.R. SUNDARAM:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  recent  incidents  of  crane  crash and  stampede  during  Haj  pilgrimage  in  Saudi  Arabia  in  which  a  large number of Indians have also lost their lives;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the details of medical and other arrangements in place to take care of such an eventuality;
- (c) whether sufficient medical and other facilities were provided to the victims;
- (d) if so, the details along with the compensation paid, if any, to the victims by the Government as well as Saudi authorities; and
- (e)
- if not, the reasons for delay in the matter?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

- (a) & (b) Yes.  Due  to  a  heavy  storm  in  Makkah  Region,  a  crane  accident occurred on 11.09.2015 in Haram Sharief.  In this accident, 13 Indian pilgrims died and  19  pilgrims  were  injured.  A  stampede  occurred  in  Mina  on  24  September, 2015 in which 120 Indian pilgrims died, 51 were injured and 3 are reported to be missing.

Government of India attaches high priority to Haj  pilgrimage.    Ministry  of External Affairs coordinates arrangements for Haj pilgrimage in consultation with the  Haj  Committee  of  India  and  the  Consulate  General  of  India,  Jeddah.  Every year,  Ministry  of  External  Affairs  sends  deputationists  (Coordinators,  Assistant Haj  Officers,  Haj  Assistants,  Doctors  and  Paramedical  staff)  for  rendering assistance to the Haj pilgrims.  Every year, Consulate General of India, Jeddah arranges for temporary tents in Mina, sets up dispensaries and branch Haj Offices in Makkah & Madinah, provides medicines, ambulances, other local transport etc. for the Haj pilgrims.

For Haj 2015, Consulate General of India, Jeddah established main offices in  Makkah  and  Madinah,  13  branch  offices  in  Makkah,  3  branch  offices  in Madinah, offices with dispensaries at Jeddah and Madinah Haj Terminals, a 40bedded hospital in Makkah, a 40-bedded hospital in Azizia region of Makkah, 13 branch dispensaries in Makkah, a 10-bedded main dispensary in Madinah and 3 branch dispensaries in Madinah.  Ministry of External Affairs deputed 145 Doctors and  149  Paramedical  staff  during  Haj  2015.    Medicines  and  medical  equipment worth Rs. 1.76 crores were also sent by Ministry of External Affairs to Consulate General of India, Jeddah for pilgrims during Haj 2015.

(c) Yes. For the Makkah Crane Accident, to provide information to the relatives about the Hajis and to assist the families of Indians  who were affected  a full fledged  24  X  7  Control  Room  along  with  helpline  and  toll  free  number  was immediately set up in Indian Haj Pilgrims Office, Makkah. Teams of Doctors and Officers  were  immediately  deployed  in  all  Government  hospitals  in  Makkah  to monitor the health condition of the injured and to find missing pilgrims.  Teams of Doctors  and  Officers  were  also  deputed  to  visit  Mina  mortuary  to  identify  the deceased Indian Hajis.

For  the  Mina  stampede,  a  full  fledged  24x7  Control  Room  along  with helpline and toll free number was immediately set up in Indian Haj office Camp, Mina. Teams  of  Doctors  and  Officers were  immediately  deployed  in all Government  hospitals  in  Mina,  Makkah  and  Jeddah  to  monitor  the  health condition  of  the  injured  and  to  find  missing  pilgrims.      Teams  of  Doctors  and Officers were also deputed to visit Mina mortuary to identify the deceased Indian Hajis. As  a  follow  up,  for  both  the  accidents,  officials  also  regularly  visited hospitals where Indian Hajis were admitted.  They visited Mina mortuary to follow up  on  the  burial  formalities  of  the  deceased.    Officials  of  Health  Ministry,  Haj Ministry and Interior Ministry of Saudi Arabia were regularly approached to obtain information regarding the missing Hajis.  Regular updates for both the accidents were uploaded pertaining to dead/injured/missing Hajis on websites of MEA, CGI, Jeddah.    Indian  Haj  Mission's  whatsapp  was  also  extensively  used  to  provide information to the relatives of the victim. (d) & (e) For  the  Makkah  Crane  accident,  Government  of  Saudi  Arabia  had announced a compensation of Saudi Riyal 1 million  to  be  paid  to  the  family  of each pilgrim killed in the accident, Saudi Riyal 1 million to those pilgrims whose injuries resulted in permanent disability and Saudi Riyal 500,000 for each of the seriously  injured  pilgrims.    However,  as  on  date,  Saudi  authorities  have  not started  the  process  of  disbursement  of  compensation.    No  compensation  has been announced by the Government of Saudi Arabia for the Mina Stampede. Government of India has not paid any compensation to the victims of the accidents.  However, every Haj pilgrim going through Haj Committee of India is insured under Group Accident Compensation Scheme of Haj Committee of India. Private Tour Operators also insure the pilgrims and provide compensation in such cases as per their compensation policy.

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