New Delhi: After last year’s stampede that killed more than 2000 people during the annual Hajj pilgrimage, the Saudi Arabia administration has announced that electronic bracelets will be given to Muslim pilgrims travelling to the Islam’s holiest city this year.
The bracelets will store personal (address, passport numbers, contact details) and medical information to help authorities care for and identify people. The water resistant bracelets will also be connected to a GPS location system.
The information can be accessed by employees of the ministry, and security and services bodies via a smartphone.
Authorities have also installed nearly 1,000 new surveillance cameras near the Mecca's Grand Mosque. It will be linked to control rooms staffed by special forces monitoring pilgrim movements.
The decision was taken after several pilgrims had last year complained about difficulty in identifying the victims killed in stampede on September 24. At least 2,297 pilgrims died during the stampede during last year's hajj, according to data from foreign officials. Saudi Arabia, however, issued a death toll of 769. It was the worst disaster in hajj history.
The tragedy happened as pilgrims made their way in searing temperatures to the Jamarat, the place where they ritually stone the devil in the city of Mina in western Saudi Arabia.
The annual pilgrimage to Mecca is attended by more than two million Muslims from around the world.
