S.D. Moorthy, welfare consul at the Indian Consulate in Jeddah, blamed Anwar Ali’s (full name not disclosed) Indian travel agent for failing to contact the victim’s next of kin or a diplomatic mission.
“This was gross negligence on the part of the travel operator and we are reporting the case to our government to take necessary action against the agent,” the diplomat noted, adding that it is the agent’s responsibility to look after the pilgrims until they return home safely. Moorthy said the consulate found out about the case only when the victim’s brother, Mohamed Ilyasdeen, came to Makkah to find out how Anwar Ali was.
Anwar Ali, a resident of Vellore in Tamil Nadu, came to perform Umrah in March with a group organized by a travel operator. On their way to Madinah, the car he was traveling in met with an accident and he was admitted to Makkah’s King Abdul Aziz Hospital in a coma. Later, he was moved to Ibn Sina Hospital.
“Neither the group leader nor the tour operator reported the incident to the consulate,” Moorthy said, adding that the agent had also not contacted the family. “The family thought Anwar Ali was undergoing treatment in Makkah and would return home soon.
“Since there was no news forthcoming about his health condition, his brother Ilyasdeen went to Makkah to find out for himself. To his horror, he found his brother in a coma at Ibn Sina Hospital.”
As the condition of Anwar Ali was not improving, hospital authorities suggested Ilyasdeen take him to be with his family, which might create an environment for a speedy recovery. The brother contacted the travel agents and the group leader and asked them to make arrangements for Anwar Ali’s immediate repatriation, Moorthy said, adding that initially they refused and only relented after the consulate intervened.
Moorthy also said the consulate is trying to find out more information about the accident and other details so that Anwar Ali could get some compensation from insurance companies. Anwar Ali was a trader who is married and has three children back home. Currently he is being treated at Vellore Hospital and his condition is gradually improving.
