SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi officials say the use of a new high-speed railway linking the holy cities of Mecca and Medina has been a success, and the pilgrimage has resulted in no major accidents.

Record ID: 189073

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Saudi officials say the use of a new high-speed railway linking the holy cities of Mecca and Medina has been a success, and the pilgrimage has resulted in no major accidents.
  • Date: 26th October 2012
  • Summary: MINA, SAUDI ARABIA (OCTOBER 26, 2012) (REUTERS) WIDE OF NEWS CONFERENCE OF SAUDI INTERIOR MINISTRY (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MAJOR GENERAL MANSOUR AL-TURKI, SPOKESPERSON FOR THE SAUDI INTERIOR MINISTRY, SAYING: "The train has helped in the transfer of large numbers of pilgrims. It was planned that the train would transfer 24 percent of pilgrims but we found out that the actual numbers were much higher than this." REPORTER ASKING QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) KHALED AL-HABASHI, DIRECTOR OF THE SAUDI RED CRESCENT IN MECCA, SAYING: "Overcrowding exists at all pilgrimage sites and there was big demand for the use of the train, we knew there will be crowds around train stations, the Saudi Red Crescent organised support at all train stations -- ambulance crews, stationary crews, crews with motorcycles or vans." RAIL ON RAILWAY TRACKS SIGN READING IN ARABIC AND ENGLISH: JAMARAT / MINA VARIOUS OF TRAIN ARRIVING TO AT JAMARAT STATION PILGRIMS WALKING IN THE AREA LEADING TO JAMARAT AMBULANCE HELICOPTER LANDING AT JAMARAT CLOSE OF MECCA CLOCK VARIOUS OF MINA CAMPS NEAR JAMARAT BIG SIGN READING IN ARABIC: "Jamarat, fourth floor entrance" PILGRIMS PRAYING IN THE STREET PILGRIMS COMING OUT OF JAMARAT
  • Embargoed: 10th November 2012 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA5V68G2Q7MFICM8YFH4GS1V7RH
  • Story Text: Saudi officials said the annual Muslim haj pilgrimage, including the ritual stoning of the devil which has in the past led to hundreds of deaths in stampedes, had been successful with no major accidents.
    Muslims from around the world on Friday (October 26) celebrated Eid al-Adha, which marks the annual pilgrimage that this year attracted more than three million people from nearly 190 countries.
    This year's haj took place against a backdrop of divisions among Muslims, with Shi'ite Iran and U.S.-allied Sunni countries like Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Qatar backing opposing sides in Syria's civil war.
    Millions of pilgrims hurled pebbles on Friday at a wall symbolising Satan in Mina before heading to the Grand Mosque to circle the Kaaba, a cube-shaped structure Muslims must face five times a day during prayers.
    Spokesperson for the Saudi Interior Ministry, Major General Mansour al-Turki, said the move to have a quarter of the faithful travel using Mashair Railway service had proved successful.

    "The train has helped in the transfer of large numbers of pilgrims. It was planned that the train would transfer 24 percent of pilgrims but we found out that the actual numbers were much higher than this."
    The monorail transport system built by China is expected to have a maximum capacity of five million people annually. Officials hope it will ease heavy congestion during the Eid al-Adha holiday.
    Khaled al-Habashi, director of the Saudi Red Crescent in Mecca, said on Friday that 18 people were slightly injured and treated on the spot after a minor stampede took place on Thursday (October 25) but emergency services were prepared for incidents.

    "Overcrowding exists at all pilgrimage sites and there was big demand for the use of the train, we knew there will be crowds around train stations, the Saudi Red Crescent organised support at all train stations -- ambulance crews, stationary crews, crews with motorcycles or vans."
    Pilgrims will spend two to three days at Mina, a valley in eastern Mecca, for three more rounds of the ritual stoning.
    Mina is a giant tent city that is used for less than a week a year during the haj. Those who are unable to afford staying at the costly, fire-resistant tents pitched small tents or laid mats on the sides of the streets and mountain slopes.
    Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Islam and its ruling monarchy derives much of its legitimacy from its guardianship of Islam's holiest sites.
    ENDS
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register