JEDDAH, 16 January 2006 — Work on the new multilevel Jamrat Bridge in Mina, which was the scene of a deadly stampede that killed over 360 pilgrims during this Haj, began Saturday. The project, which is designed to accommodate more than three million pilgrims at a time, will cost SR4 billion.

Demolition of the present bridge and clearing out the debris began in earnest as soon as this Haj season ended in order to build two of the four levels of the new bridge by next year’s Haj. The design of the new bridge aims at reducing congestion in Jamrat at any one time or point and avoiding the occurrence of stampedes.

Saudi authorities have handed over 212 identified bodies of the stampede victims to their relatives, according to Khaled Al-Mirghalani, spokesman of the Health Ministry.

They included bodies of 36 Saudis, 31 Pakistanis, 24 Indians, 22 Egyptians, 13 Yemenis, 11 Sudanese, 10 Turks, eight Iraqis, seven Omanis, six Afghans, six Maldivians, five Moroccans, four Palestinians, four Chinese, four Syrians, three Britons, three Somalis, three Libyans, two Indonesians, two Bangladeshis, two Ghanaians, and one each from the UAE, Jordan, Chad, France, Germany and Burkina Faso, Mirghalani said.

He said most of the pilgrims injured in Thursday’s accident had left hospitals in Makkah and Mina. “Only four — an Indian, a Pakistani, a Moroccan and a Chinese — remain at hospital,” he added.

Authorities have provided additional numbers (8002458000 for contacts from within the Kingdom and 0096625510471/25510472/25510473 from abroad) to inquire about the dead and injured.

The new Jamrat expansion project, which was planned a year ago, will be completed within four years.

“The problem is with the high density of the pilgrims at the entrance points of the bridge and the design of the new bridge aims at fragmenting that density and helping pilgrims reach Jamrat quickly,” said Mohammed Idrees, deputy dean of King Fahd Haj Institute at Um Al-Qura University and head of the institute’s Jamrat Bridge design team.

The new bridge will have ten entrances distributed on the four levels plus the ground floor to accommodate the pilgrims coming from different directions. The ground and first level of the bridge are for pilgrims coming in from east Mina, who account for the highest percentage. The second level is for pilgrims coming in from Makkah side, the third from north Mina and the new pilgrim residences in the tent city, and the fourth level is for pilgrims coming in from south Makkah through King Abdul Aziz Road.

“This way we can fragment the density of the pilgrims before they reach the throwing site,” Idrees told Arab News. There will be three main tunnels for transporting vehicles. These tunnels will be connected to service towers for garbage collectors, ambulances and other services. There is also a tunnel to be used by special delegations and VIPs.

The project also includes preparing the area for the bridge, removing some of the current tents and relocating them, and correcting the route of some roads and paths as well as providing water, electricity and other services. The project is being implemented under the supervision of the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs.

“The design of the bridge has taken into consideration the environmental aspects and agrees with the shape of the valley and the surrounding area,” said Idrees.

It is designed to accommodate three to four pilgrims per square meter with a total capacity of almost three million pilgrims during the peak five-and-a-half hours.

“Additional levels can be added to the bridge if needed in the future,” said Idrees.

The new facility will have two helipads for air ambulance services and eight buildings for wide escalators. It is 90 meters wide and the top level will be covered with a similar material used for the tents — rather than concrete — to provide shade for the pilgrims from sun and rain.

The bridge will have the same oval shape as now for the stone throwing area for a streamlined movement. Many technological facilities and services will be available to facilitate movement, clearing of the stones, cleaning, and emergency, which will reduce the pressure on the ground personnel.