MAKKAH, 25 January 2005 — When Akhtar Jahan, 57, of Jharkand, India came to perform Haj, she did not dream that she would never see her home again. She was unfortunately killed in a weather-related accident — in a flash flood which some termed the “Saudi tsunami”.
After finishing the last rituals of Haj, Jahan and her husband took a taxi from the Jamrat to go to the Indian camp in Makkah.
Rain was coming down in torrents, and the streets of Makkah were flooded. In addition to the heavy rain, there was a landslide and falling rocks hit the taxi.
As the passengers frantically got out of the vehicle, a boulder hit Jahan and pinned her under the taxi. She lay there, under the taxi for over half an hour as her husband begged for help. Many people saw the accident but because of the heavy rain and the falling rocks and boulders, no one ventured to help.
Only when the rain stopped did some people come to help and move the taxi. At that time, Jahan was unconscious but alive. A Saudi offered to take her to the nearest hospital which was about three kilometers away, but heavy traffic delayed them and it was only two and a half hours after the accident that they arrived at the hospital. By then, it was too late and Jahan was dead within half an hour of reaching the hospital.
Professor Wajihuddin of Ranchi remains in shock due to his wife’s death. His Haj agent has not even visited him or offered to provide any help.
One of his nephews who is with him said, “We are appalled that so many people just stood there watching but no one offered to free my aunt from under the taxi.”
Akhtar Jahan is survived by her husband, Wajihuddin, a retired professor of English at Ranchi University, and two children.
Torrential rains swept Makkah on Saturday disrupting the retreat of pilgrims from Mina as the Haj drew to a close. The rain started belting down across the arid valley around 3 p.m. as many of the 2.56 million pilgrims began streaming out of the tent city after performing the stoning ritual for the third consecutive day.
While Saudi authorities mounted a huge operation to ensure security and prevent accidents, they were caught unawares by torrential rains which lashed the western Saudi Arabia on Saturday afternoon.
Local newspapers reported that two pilgrims had died and 196 suffered injuries in rain-related accidents. At least eight people were reported to have died in flash floods in the Madinah region.
