Saudi expects about 2.5 million pilgrims this season

Saudi Arabia expects to welcome about 2.5 million foreign and local pilgrims this season, according to officials.

The kingdom’s Civil Defence has created an integrated plan for the last days of Ramadan and the Eid Al-Fitr holiday, local daily Arab News quoted officials as saying.

Director general of the Civil Defense, Sulaiman bin Abdullah Al-Amro, said the plan will ‘ensure safety and security’ for all the pilgrims visiting Mecca and Madinah.

Officers will be deployed in the Tawaf area with back-up vehicles to transfer pilgrims to the nearest medical facility in case of emergency, he was quoted as saying.

Fire and rescue teams will also be present to transport any affected pilgrims.

In 2015, Saudi witnessed a stampede during the haj pilgrimage that left at least 769 pilgrims dead, according to official data. The fatalities represented the highest haj death toll since a crush in 1990.

Following the incident, the kingdom made several new arrangements last year which included issuing pilgrims with electronic bracelets and using more surveillance cameras.

Meanwhile the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah has made preparations to accommodate 15,000 people this season, the Arab News report said.

Those visiting Mecca were also advised to take basic toiletries and warm clothing because of air conditioning in the Grand Mosque, it added.