Prospective Hajj Pilgrim from NTB Dies Ahead of Departure
Mataram (ANTARA) - One prospective Hajj pilgrim from the Lombok Embarkation in West Nusa Tenggara Province (NTB) has been reported to have passed away before being sent to the Holy Land of Saudi Arabia.
The Head of the NTB Regional Office of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj), Lalu Muhammad Amin, confirmed the report.
“Yes, we have received the report on that information,” he said during a press conference at the Hajj Dormitory in Mataram City on Monday.
He emphasised that the process for a prospective pilgrim who dies before departure will follow the applicable mechanisms. The government is endeavouring to avoid quota shortages while still referring to the existing regulations.
“If a pilgrim passes away, it will naturally be processed according to the applicable provisions. However, NTB’s quota of around 5,800 will, God willing, still be fulfilled and not reduced even if there is a death,” he said.
He mentioned that the total number of Hajj prospective pilgrims (JCH) from NTB to be sent off for this year’s Hajj is 5,798 people, divided into 15 batches.
“The number of pilgrims based on NTB’s quota is 5,798 people, plus 80 accompanying staff, making a total of 5,846 people to be sent off,” he said.
From the total of all prospective pilgrims, 190 people fall into the elderly category over 65 years old. Nevertheless, not all are in declining health, while the average age of NTB’s prospective Hajj pilgrims this year is around 65 and above.
“Those with high health risks will still receive special attention,” he said.
Lalu Amin confirmed that for batch 1 of the Lombok Embarkation, consisting of 387 people from East Lombok Regency, they will enter the Hajj Dormitory on Tuesday (21/4) at 06:00 WITA, then be flown to the Holy Land of Saudi Arabia on Wednesday (22/4) at 14:30 WITA.
Regarding the weather conditions in Saudi Arabia, they urged the prospective pilgrims to maintain their physical condition and health, considering that the weather in the homeland and Saudi Arabia is not the same.
“Weather information we obtained from Hajj staff who are already in the Holy Land indicates that Medina is 43 degrees Celsius and Mecca is 36 degrees, so we urge pilgrims to maintain physical health. Because many of our pilgrims are elderly,” he said.