M'sian pilgrims safe after heavy rains in Mina

All Malaysian pilgrims have been confirmed safe following heavy rains at the Mina Muaisim campsite in Mecca at 4pm local time (9pm Malaysian time) yesterday.

Malaysian Haj delegation chief Syed Saleh Syed Abdul Rahman said no injuries were reported involving Malaysian pilgrims or haj personnel here.

"It has been a practice that when heavy rains hit the camp site, Saudi Arabia's fire authorities would order electricity supply to be shut down to prevent electrocution. Electricity was fully restored at 7.10pm.

"The only damage in the tents were the wet rugs due to rain seeping in," he said in a statement here today.

This year's pilgrimage saw 30,200 Malaysians perform the fifth Islamic tenet with the help of 640 Tabung Haji personnel.

Syed Saleh said due to the heavy showers, the evening's stoning ritual was postponed to 8.20pm (local time) yesterday and the situation in Mina situation had resumed as usual by 8pm last night.

"The Muassasah of Southeast Asia replaced some carpets and distributed black plastic as a base. Malaysian pilgrims are also using plastic mats given in Malaysia to lie on.

"The pilgrims also worked together to clean up the tent area in a gotong royong manner,” he said.

He said some of the pilgrims left Mina for Makkah today after performing the ‘Nafar Awal’ (tawaf, saie and tahlul).

- Bernama