Injured pilgrim from city left in the lurch

Hyderabad: More than two months elapsed since the tragedy that claimed lives of more than 100 pilgrims in Mecca occurred. A victim from Telangana State, who underwent major surgery in King Abdul Azeez hospital in Mecca, has not yet got compensation either from the Saudi government or assistance from State government. His spleen was surgically removed. His health condition has now deteriorated.

Being only breadwinner, Shaik Mujeeb, 38, resident of Bhavaninagar, Talabkatta, had exhausted all his savings after returning from Haj pilgrimage towards medical expenses. On that ill-fated night, he was standing below crane which crashed. He was crushed underneath the crane, while his mother and wife had a narrow escape.

He had his spleen injured in the accident. On being admitted to hospital, surgeons had removed his spleen. It has affected his digestive system and he has to live with it for the rest of his life. Even though the Saudi government provided free treatment for five days, after his return from Haj there was no word of assistance either from Telangana State government or the Saudi authorities.

Even though compensation was immediately announced after the accident in Saudi Arabia, the State Haj Committee or State government had so far made no announcement of relief to the victim. The Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz al Saud had ordered 1 million Saudi Riyals (about Rs 1.7 crore) compensation for the injured with permanent disability and half a million Riyals compensation for those injured in Haram accident.

But, Shaik Mujeeb has not yet received any compensation so far. It is alleged that the Haj committee had failed to pursue the matter with the Saudi authorities. “I am the only breadwinner in my family and after my spleen was removed I could barely walk even few metres. Within days after returning, I went to several hospitals and exhausted all my savings. Even though Saudi government has announced the compensation, there is no word from any authority after I returned,” he said.

His mother, Najma Bee, who was also witness to the accident, could only find his son on the third day in the hospital. With no other to take care of the family, she is worried over the deteriorating health condition of Mujeeb. “What is the use of all that hype created after the accident and announcement of compensation when the authorities fails to fulfil their promise,” she said.

Officials said they would apprise Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao of the issue. “We shall take up the issue only if the victims represent the matter to the officials or the Chief Minister,” said Secretary of Minor Welfare Department Syed Omer Jaleel.

By Md Nizamuddin