Saudi Crown Prince oversees Hajj operations as Pilgrims mark Arafat Day

New Delhi, June 6: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrived in Mina on Thursday along with his team to oversee arrangements for the ongoing Hajj pilgrimage, as hundreds of thousands of pilgrims gathered at Mount Arafat to observe Arafat Day.

According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Crown Prince visited Mina on behalf of King Salman "to oversee the comfort of pilgrims and the services and facilities provided to them so that they perform their rituals with ease and safety." Millions of faithful assemble at the Plain of Arafat, near Mecca, to offer prayers, seek forgiveness, and reflect on their faith. From noon until sunset, pilgrims stood in devotion at the site where Prophet Mohammed is believed to have delivered his final sermon, a central moment in the Islamic pilgrimage.

The Saudi Ministry of Health, as reported by Gulf News, announced a significant 90% reduction in heat exhaustion cases compared to the same period last year. The number of casualties has also been much lower despite the fear of the reemergence of COVID-19. The decline was attributed to proactive public health measures and excellent arrangements, including the expansion of shaded areas, the distribution of cooling supplies, and multilingual awareness campaigns. Medical teams and emergency services were stationed across key sites to provide immediate assistance if needed.

Indian pilgrims were among the large crowds observing rituals, and the Consulate General of India in Jeddah remains actively engaged in providing support and emergency assistance. Dedicated officers have been deployed at key locations, including Mecca, Madinah, and the Jeddah Haj Terminal, to assist pilgrims.