Minister of Health Khaled Al-Falih receives Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Gen. V.K Singh at his office in Jeddah on Tuesday. Hemant Kotalwar, charge d' affaires at the Indian Embassy-Riyadh, Consul General B.S. Mubarak, and Deputy Consul General Muhammad Noor Rahman Sheikh are also seen. -- Courtesy photo Hassan Cheruppa Saudi Gazette
JEDDAH — The Saudi authorities have assured a visiting Indian minister that all the remaining dead bodies will be identified as soon as possible and that the fate of the missing pilgrims could be decided only after completion of the identification process. Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday after meeting Health Minister Khaled Al-Falih, Indian Minister of State for External Affairs Gen. V.K Singh said the government of India is awaiting the completion of the ongoing investigations. A total of 77 Indian pilgrims were confirmed dead in the Mina stampede and 13 in the crane crash. Some 59 pilgrims are still unaccounted for in the stampede while 21 are receiving treatment at various hospitals. Gen. Singh visited the injured pilgrims at King Abdullah Medical Complex in Jeddah. He said the Saudi health minister assured that the injured Indian pilgrims are being provided with the best possible treatment. “Riyadh has promised all facilities, including issuance of visa for close relatives of the deceased pilgrims to give DNA samples as well as to accompany the injured one,” he said.
Singh said that the issue of compensation for the families of the deceased pilgrims will be decided in line with their insurance coverage. “Pilgrims who came under the Central Haj Committee and through Private Tour Operators will be the beneficiaries of insurance and domestic pilgrims will not come under this,” he said. Referring to repatriation of bodies to India, the minister said that none of the families approached with such a request as they all prefer to bury their kin in the holy land. It appeared that all the dead bodies are being buried after completion of the identification process. The Saudi government is going through a thorough process of identification involving several aspects including DNA sampling. “Many of the mortal remains were in degenerated condition and they cannot be kept for a very long time because of medical or religious reasons. There have been certain methodologies adopted by the authorities in the burial procedures.” Referring to his take away while returning to India, Singh said: “We were able to sensitize the Saudi government about the issue by stating that our dead pilgrims are to be identified as soon as possible, and that the pilgrims are to be treated well until they return home.” Singh said the government would take further steps to intensify awareness of pilgrims about the dos and don'ts after going through the findings of the investigation reports when they come out. “We are looking at what are the lessons coming out of the investigations.” While reacting to the Yemeni situation, Singh blamed those Indians who came back to Yemen after their evacuation earlier. Singh headed India's Herculean mission of successfully evacuating 5,500 Indians and 1,000 foreigners in April this year. “The government had sent advisories to people to come back if there were any issues with their security and safety in Yemen well before starting the evacuation process. Unfortunately, a lot of people among those evacuated have gone back to Yemen and thus putting their life in danger. It is very difficult for the government to do anything in their case when condition further worsened,” he said. Consul General B.S. Mubarak, and Deputy Consul General and Haj Consul Muhammad Noor Rahman Sheikh also attended the press conference.
