More than 18,000 emergency personnel have been deployed on various routes to ensure that pilgrims reach the holy sites safely.

Maj. Gen. Khalid Al-Harbi, commander of the Emergency Forces, told Arab News that the personnel had conducted drills at the entrance points to Al-Jamrat and the other roads that will be used by the pilgrims.

“We will regulate the flow of traffic to prevent any congestion or injuries,” he said.

“In Jamrat area alone, we have deployed more than 11,000 individuals. There will be five routes from the eastern side. There are four floors that will be used by the pilgrims.

The ground and first floors have five entrance points, while the third floor has three entrance points. The fourth floor has one entrance, for those coming by train,” he said.

“Jamrat usually accounts for the largest number of pilgrims, and about 30 percent of them will be coming through Al-Mu’aisim tunnel, which will be the largest flow.

We have stationed a number of police officers at Al-Rahman Mount to prevent any congestion.

“This season, we will slap immediate penalties for violators. The comfort level of the pilgrims is inversely proportional to the number of violators,” he said.

“More than 1.6 million foreign pilgrims have already arrived in Mina.

We have not yet determined the number of domestic pilgrims. For us, the most major cause of concern is when pilgrims finish throwing stones in Jamarat and return at the same time to Makkah,” he said.

He urged Haj companies not to transport more than 300,000 pilgrims per hour, effective the 10th day of Dhu Al-Hijjah. “They should also transport only 50 percent of the pilgrims on the 13th day of Dhu Al-Hijjah,” he added.

Civil Defense cautions Al-Rahmah climbers

Pilgrims should not climb Al-Rahmah mountain in large groups when they stand at Arafat site, as the falling rocks and crowding might cause injuries, said commander of the Civil Defense at Arafat, Brig. Abdulrahman bin Hasan Al-Zahrani.

Al-Zahrani said that many teams were deployed for the Grand Day of Haj, along with safety patrols and the rapid intervention squads around Al-Rahmah Mountain in case of accidents.

IDB conducts trial run of animal slaughter

The Islamic Development Bank (IDB) is ready to start slaughtering animals from immediately after prayer of Eid Al-Adha until the third day, known as Tashriq, through its Saudi Project for Utilization of Haj Meat (ADAHI).

Mustafa Wadi, media manager of IDB, said ADAHI prepared all its equipment and refrigerators for the meat project. He also said that IDB has carried out slaughter on its premises in Al-Maasem area in Makkah on Sunday.

The bank earmarked the slaughtered 3,4 04 sheep, 20 camels and 10 cattle for charity.