Maldivians attending the Hajj pilgrimage this year have been scheduled to start returning to Maldives starting Saturday.
According to the the state-owned Hajj Corporation's Director, Yamin Idrees, 252 pilgrims who went with them are scheduled to return on Saturday. The remaining pilgrims are scheduled to return on September 19, 21 and 24 respectively.
Pilgrims who went with the Hajj Corporation are all in Mecca, while the other pilgrims are in Mina. According to hajj groups, these pilgrims will begin their journey to Mecca on Thursday.
They reported that all pilgrims are generally in good health.
Pilgrims who attended this year’s Hajj are scheduled to return to Maldives from September 17-24.
Islamic ministry says that, despite arrangements by the government to cover travel fees to the airport by the pilgrims on their way to Mecca, similar arrangements will not be made for those returning back.
Two Maldivian pilgrims passed away during their Hajj pilgrimage, while another Maldivian is currently in King Faisal Hospital’s ICU. The Maldives Hajj Mission, citing doctors, reported that the patient is in critical condition.
The two deceased, as well as the pilgrim undergoing treatment, were taken to Mount Arafat under special arrangements made by the Saudi government.