20,000 “emergency” graves for Makkah pilgrims

Saudi Arabia has dug nearly 20,000 graves and recruited thousands of undertakers to brace for possible deadly accidents during the upcoming Haj (pilgrimage) in the holy city of Makkah, Shams daily reported on Saturday.

“We have readied 20,000 graves as an emergency plan for this Haj season,” the paper quoted Abdul Salam Mashat, Makkah services director, as saying.

He said the plan also includes supplying Makkah’s hospitals and other medical centres with shrouds and washing tools for the dead, recruitment of thousands of grave diggers, and hiring of cars and drivers to transport the dead.

Thousands of people have died in previous Haj seasons in Saudi Arabia as a result of fires, building collapses, stampedes by pilgrims and other incidents. Nearly two million Muslims from around the world are expected to converge on the central city of Makkah for this year’s Haj in mid November.

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