Says big promises made by State Hajj Committee fallen flat, 5 persons bundled in an in-capacious room with small washroom, poor Wi-Fi connectivity, accommodation sans basic facilities; it was minor issue affecting 18 pilgrims, issue will be resolved within 24 hours: EO Haj House
Srinagar: Several Kashmiri Hajj pilgrims who embarked to holy journey from Srinagar on May 16, 2024 expressed strong resentment over poor arrangement at Mecca. The aggrieved pilgrims alleged that the group made all-out efforts in every possible way and moved from pillar to post to get their due complaints resolved but all in vain.
Speaking to Kashmir News Service (KNS), Syed Shafaq (PP No. S9423449) and Shafiq Hussain (PP No. S4842333) said we pilgrims batch of dated 16.05.2024 consisting 322 pilgrims were initially prepared in the Haj trainings conducted at Srinagar Haj House to be taken to Madina Munawara first from Srinagar, however, on the departure (16.05.2024) we surprisingly were given boarding cards showing arrival at Jedda and were then taken to Makkah.
The pilgrims said after spending a week in Makkah we requested to be taken to Madina Munawara but the Maktab (concerned agency responsible for managing & facilitating the group on behalf of Saudi Govt.) denied for the same on the pretext that our group does not belong to their Maktab having ID No.276 who actually belong to Maktab No.173. They informed us that this has happened due to error taken place at state haj committee sgr responsible for assignment of Maktabs.
They said after conducting series of meetings with officials of Indian Haj Office Makkah the matter was resolved after several days of our strenuous efforts and our batch of pilgrims was handed over to new Maktab No.173 who took the entire group of pilgrims to Madina Munawara on the evening of 28.05.2024 barring 19 pilgrims whose names didn’t figure in the list of Maktab No.173 for unknown reasons.
The 19 pilgrims (11 in building No.091 and 8 in building No.134) were not taken to Madina Munawara for none of their fault who are currently passing through a traumatic situation by leaving here at Makkah high & dry, they held.
They added even Khudams concerned failed to do anything in this regard who also left to Madina with the group & abandoned us as helpless and mute spectators.
We made all-out efforts in every possible way and went from pillar to post to get along the group to Madina but all in vain. No one came to our help, they added.
Further, big promises made by Hajj committee members at Srinagar that very good arrangements shall be in place for all pilgrims this year. However, reality on the ground was contrary i.e., 5 persons bundled in an in-capacious room with small wash rooms in Mecca. The accommodation is with poor Wi-Fi connectivity and sans basic facilities like washing machines etc, they continued.
Expressing disappointment over poor and inadequate arrangements, the pilgrims said this is really a pathetic situation we are presently put in. “It clearly indicates gross mismanagement right from leaving from Srinagar where at the eleventh hour we were informed to be going to Jedda instead of Mecca and faced lot of inconvenience and mental agony in one way or the other till date”.
They added it clearly indicates gross mismanagement of State Hajj Committee right from leaving from Srinagar where at the eleventh hour we were informed to be going to Jedda instead of Mecca and faced lot of inconvenience and mental agony in one way or the other till date.
Speaking over phone, they sai,d at this time (11 am Saudi time) we are at Indian Hajj Office Mecca to find out some resolution to our woes but no firm & positive response is given by Indian officials here who also raise up their hands in the matter with the pretext that this is problem at the Maktab-276 end and they are unable to help us in this matter.
We are currently disturbed & distressed 19 pilgrims feel to have been left on the mercy of Allah, they added.
Executive Officer Haj House Bemina, Dr. Shujaat Qureshi, informed Kashmir News Service that a minor issue had arisen with one of the Maktabs, affecting eighteen pilgrims.
He assured that he was personally handling the matter and would resolve it within the next twenty-four hours.(KNS)
