HAJJ AND STAMPEDE

    The unfortunate and horrible disaster which have occurred in the form of stampede at Islam’s most holy pilgrimage place at Mecca, have raised the questions about management of security personals. More than 700 people have died and also injured. There were more than 2 million people attending hajj from all over the world including 0.15 million Indian. It is a dream of every Islamic to attain hajj. It is the fifth pillar of Islam. The people gather here to assert focus, regain consciousness and for the feeling of oneness i.e. unity. Hence it the responsibility of security officers to make their journey safe and peaceful.

     Initially I would like to tell that how hajj is conducted. The process of hajj starts from mina where one has to begin early after prayer. Followed by a circumambulation of holy mosque kaaba. At last the pilgrimage ends at mina following the ritual of “stoning the shaitan”. This last ritual of mina should be completed before sunset. Hence people usually in hurry to reach mina create tremendous risk.

    So, here I would like to state the reason for stampede. The road of mina where stampede often happens is very risky as it is only single way to mina and for return journey to Mecca. Even though the Saudi government have build new road for return journey, people prefer the same route bcoz new route is long. The another reason is security personals and officers instruct in Arabic language, which is difficult to understand for people from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc. there is segregation of people . The men and women are separated which leads to the separation of families. The individual who have went for the first time ho hajj may face heavy hurdles due to stampede. Also it is difficult for new person to understand arrangements and processes.

     At last I would like to say that stampede at pilgrimage sites can be avoided by proper management and co-ordination between people. In India also large scale deaths have took place in the past during stampede for various pilgrimage rituals. Kumbhmela, Hampi Utsav, etc. gather huge population from whole country. There is misconduct at this places but every year the toll of deaths in India due to stampede is reducing, becoz we have learned from past mistakes and brought reform in conduct. The Saudi Arabia should take the responsibility of 717 deaths and should stop blaming mob.