MADINAH: Slaughterhouses in Madinah witnessed unprecedented crowding this year, forcing a number of citizens and expats to postpone their sacrifices to the fourth day of Eid Al-Adha, a local newspaper reported.

Residents blamed the crowding to the small capacity of city’s slaughterhouses and urged the authorities to establish large slaughterhouses to meet the demands of the growing population of Madinah.

“I have never seen such a huge crowd in our slaughterhouses, especially on the third day of Eid. I was surprised to see the large number of citizens waiting for their turn,” said Abu Ibrahim Alharbi, a resident of Madinah.

Saad Ali, another resident, appealed to the authorities to establish large slaughterhouses to meet the demands of the population, especially during Eid Al-Adha and the holy month of Ramadan, where the turnout of citizens is very large.

Wajdi Ali said the small slaughterhouses in the city lack proper hygiene measures.

Moses Saeed highlighted the malpractices conducted by some of the owners of small slaughterhouses in the city.

Tawfiq Assad lamented the absence of vehicles used to transport the sacrifice free of charge to the slaughterhouse. “Foreign workers charge SR10 for the transport which is in the absence of strict supervision,” he said, urging the authorities to find urgent solutions to this crisis,” he added.