Hi-tech bracelets for Haj pilgrims
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will start providing electronic identification bracelets to all Haj pilgrims starting this year, as part of a safety drive that comes a year after the Mina stampede, the greatest tragedy suffered at the ancient pilgrimage site in a generation.
Storing personal and medical information, the bracelets will help authorities provide care and identify people, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said.
The devices, which are water-resistant and GPS-enabled, will also alert worshipers on prayer timings and link them to a multi-lingual help desk to guide non-Arabic speaking pilgrims through the various rituals of Hajj.
Saudi Arabia oversees the annual pilgrimage of more than two million Muslims to Makkah from around the world. Nearly a thousand new surveillance cameras were installed this month at the Grand Mosque and linked to control rooms staffed by special forces monitoring pilgrim movements for the Haj rush.
This is a very intellectual and useful step of Saudi Arabia. This is very helpful for pilgrims.
