Mumbai, Mid-Day. 58 Indian pilgrims are among those who died during the Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia amid the scorching heat. The age of those who died was 60 and above. Some Indians are also missing. Their search is on. Haj Committee Chief Executive Officer Liaquat Afaqui has confirmed this.

He has said that hopefully most of them are safe. We pray that everyone completes Hajj and reaches India safely. The temperature in Saudi Arabia is close to 52 degrees. Meanwhile, Indians who went on Hajj pilgrimage have alleged massive mismanagement.

Severe water shortage, inadequate housing

They have complained of acute shortage of water, inadequate accommodation, lack of transport service and absence of guides to serve them. Mumbai resident Sohail Rokadi said that five people went for Haj. We were charged Rs 3.20 lakh per person but there were no facilities. The place where we were accommodated was in a mess.

He further said that there was no arrangement for water there. Unknown people were also accommodated with us. We had to wait for the bus from morning till evening. There were AC buses for other countries but we were provided school buses. The bus dropped us 10 kilometers away. We had to walk in the scorching heat. The toll free number was also not reachable.

Hajj Committee denies all allegations

Meanwhile, 32-year-old Fahad Hingwala said that the hotels, tents and other facilities provided by small countries were better than those in India. Other people were deliberately accommodated with our family. However, the Haj Committee has denied all the allegations.

Haj Committee Chief Executive Officer Liaquat Afaqui said that we have made proper arrangements. There were complaints about accommodation, but it has been fixed. There may be inconvenience in dialing the toll free number if a large number of people call at the same time.