Nineteen Hajj pilgrims who left Srinagar on May 16 have accused authorities of gross mismanagement and abandonment, claiming they were left unattended in a Meccahotel, reported Kashmir Observer.
The pilgrims, part of Maktab No. 276 (the agency managing their group), said they were among a group of 322 pilgrims initially scheduled to fly directly from Srinagar to Madinah. However, they were unexpectedly issued tickets to Jeddah and transported to Mecca instead.
Shafiq Mir, one of the stranded pilgrims, told the Srinagar based newspaper, “After a week in Makkah, we requested to be taken to Madinah as planned. However, the managing agency denied our request, stating we belonged to the wrong Maktab.”
Shafiq explained that this mix-up was due to an error by the J&K State Hajj Committee, responsible for Maktab assignments. Despite repeated meetings with Indian Hajj Office officials in Mecca, the issue was only resolved on May 28 when the remaining group was transferred to the correct Maktab and taken to Madinah, leaving the 19 pilgrims stranded in Mecca.
“The designated Khuddams (guides) abandoned us in Mecca while accompanying the rest of the group to Madinah,” Shafiq said. “We are in a traumatic situation through no fault of our own.”
Another pilgrim, Syed Shafat, echoed these concerns, detailing their numerous, yet unsuccessful attempts to resolve the situation. “We made every effort to join the group in Madinah, but no one helped us,” Shafat said.
The pilgrims, as per Kashmir Observer, reported that their problems began with last-minute changes to their flight plans from Srinagar, causing significant inconvenience and mental distress. Their pleas for assistance at the Indian Hajj Office in Mecca were met with a “lazy response” and refusal to help.
“We have been left to the mercy of Allah,” the pilgrims lamented.