The non-seriousness of State government in handling the hajis who are on the holy pilgrimage to Makkah can be guaged from the fact that two pilgrims from J&K have reportedly died, the ministry of Hajj and Auqaf is still not aware about it.
The J&K govt has miserably failed to confirm about the whereabouts of these two hajis.
Malik Sajid whose father-in-law died at Maidan-e-Arfat, said they confirmed through the family channels and other sources that his father-in-law, Abdul Wahid Malik is no more. “When I contacted concerned minister Abdul Rehman Veeri, he said all are safe. I was surprised and shocked. We are mourning the death, but government is yet to respond about the incicent and has no information at all,” he said.
Source:Scan News
As per reports, more than 750 pilgrims died and 863 others were injured on Thursday in the deadly hajj stampede. Among the dead, The Guardian reported that 236 were Pakistanis, 131 from Iran, 87 Moroccans, 14 Indians, 14 Egyptians, eight Somalians, five Senegalese, four Tanzanians, four Turkish, three Algerians, three Kenyans, three Indonesians, one Burundian and one Dutch.
Two pilgrims from Kashmir’s Sopore and Tral were also trampled to death, but the apathy is no government source was able to confirm it, leaving their families in further plight. The families of these deceased are mourming from two days now, JK government is still clueless.
Whilst condolences were voiced over from White house for the heartbreaking stampede, the Hajj and Auqaf Minister called the tragedic death of the local Haji, Abdul Wahid as “natural”.