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Srinagar, Dec 17 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir government today sought to clarify media reports suggesting that Haj pilgrims from the state were facing several problems related to accommodation at Mecca and other places in Saudi Arabia.

In a statement here, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Basharat Ahmed Dhar said the state Haj Committee and the administration were making all-out efforts to ensure adequate arrangements, including accommodation, for Haj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.

Mr Dhar, who is also the convenor of the state Haj committee, said he had spoken to Central Haj Committee representatives and Haj consulate officials at Mecca in this regard.

He said the officials assured that all pilgrims from the state were safe and comfortable in Mecca and other places. The state Haj committee has made elaborate arrangements of accommodation, flights and other aspects for the earlier allotted quota of 6617 pilgrims who had to leave here from November 22.

The Divisional Commissioner further said the state Haj committee officials have been working overtime to ensure that additional 4000 pilgrims were provided similar facilities as had been done in the case of the earlier allotted quota.

He referred to a circular issued by the Haj Committee of India which stated that allotment of accommodation would depend upon the availability of units in a particular category at Mecca.

In case more applications for a particular category were received than the units available there, the allotment would be made on the basis of actual availability in each category. The remaining pilgrims would be accommodated in the lower category and the excess rental had to be reimbursed to them.

Due to paucity of accommodation around Harm-e-Sharief, Mr Dhar said additional accommodation had been hired by the Central Haj Committee for the additional quota from the state.

The Divisional Commissioner said he was in constant touch with the Indian Consulate in Jeddah and other offices in Mecca and Medina to ensure that pilgrims of the state did not face any inconvenience.

Mr Dhar said he also called on some of the pilgrims individually and enquired about the arrangements. He said Haj pilgrims were safe and comfortable and barring two people, all the wounded in the road accident on December 9 have been discharged from the hospital.

He said about 8000 pilgrims, including 2000 from the additional quota, have so far left for Jeddah from here.

The officials involved with Haj arrangements were working round-the-clock to ensure smooth conduct of the pilgrimage despite constraints, Mr Dhar added.

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