2m pilgrims in Mina ahead of Arafat

Over two million pilgrims are already in Mina town in the outskirt of Makkah where they will pass the night on Sunday before proceeding to the plain of Arafat. The journey to Mina began with the Ihram (the state of ritual purity) as male pilgrims covered their bodies with white  clothes and female in complete […]

Over two million pilgrims are already in Mina town in the outskirt of Makkah where they will pass the night on Sunday before proceeding to the plain of Arafat.

The journey to Mina began with the Ihram (the state of ritual purity) as male pilgrims covered their bodies with white  clothes and female in complete hijab, and thereafter left their hotels and hostels in Makkah and adjoining communities in groups.

All the pilgrims would pass the night in thousands of white tents in Mina, offering prayers and supplications.

Saudi’s Ministry of Interior spokesman Maj. General Mansour Al-Turki, said the actual number of pilgrims that would perform this year’s hajj exercise would be made public on Tuesday.

According to  him, "To ensure their safety, pilgrims will wear electronic identification bracelets, connected to GPS. This is a comprehensive electronic agenda for every pilgrim.

"We have a fleet of more than 18,000 buses, all of them linked to a control system that tracks their path," he said.

The Saudi authorities have also employed nearly 30,000 physicians, pharmacists, nurses and technicians to provide healthcare to pilgrims.

On its part, the Saudi Red Crescent would operate from 127 emergency centres and had deployed 361 ambulances, cars and motorcycles.