Haj victims still await compensation

Mumbai: More than two years after a major construction crane accident in September 2015 during Haj in Mecca in which more than a hundred people were killed and many more were injured, hundreds of victims and their relatives affected by the incident are still waiting for the compensation announced by the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The King of Saudi Arabia had also announced that apart from paying adequate compensation, two family members of the victims would be called for Haj pilgrimage free of cost. However, the last date for filing applications for Haj pilgrimage this year expired last week but there has been no word from the Saudi authorities over the issue.

Rafique Shaikh (62), a retired schoolteacher from Kurla, had gone for Haj in 2015 along with his wife. The duo had reached Mecca on September 10, a day before the accident and was present at the site when it happened. Mr Shaikh suffered a major injury in his left leg and had to be admitted to a local hospital for several days. A total of 107 people were killed on September 11, 2015 when a construction crane, that was used to expand the area of Haram to allow more people to perform Haj at a single time, crashed at the Grand Masjid in Mecca.

A total of 238 people were injured, including many Indians like Mr Shaikh.

“I was discharged from the hospital in Saudi Arabia after some basic surgeries and was asked to go back and get proper medical treatment in India,” said Mr Shaikh, adding that the injury was so serious that the bone near his ankle was fractured and the lower part of his left leg was attached to the body only through some tissues.

“I underwent several surgeries and spent lakhs of rupees till now on the treatment but have not received a single penny from the Saudi government as promised by them,” Mr Shaikh further said. “Though now I am able to walk without stick, the treatment was very expensive. At the instance of Saudi authorities we had agreed to come back to India without complete treatment because we were under the impression that the compensation announced by Saudi government would be sufficient for treatment, but we did not get anything.”

“I was in the category of seriously injured but neither are we getting any compensation nor are we able to even approach the Saudi authorities,” he further added.ife Hema and her lawyer Haresh Bhambani.