Saudi Arabia announces compensations for victims of crane disaster

Saudi Arabia announces compensations for victims of crane disaster

Thursday, September 17, 2015 1:21 am


King Salman bin Abdulaziz visiting the injured victims in hospital

King Salman bin Abdulaziz visiting the injured victims in hospital

King Salman bin Abdulaziz  of Saudi Arabia has announced huge compensations for victims of the Grand Mosque crane disaster—the dead and the injured.

According to orders issued by Salman who is the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the relatives of those who died and those who suffered permanent disability in the accident will get one million Saudi Arabia Riyal (SR) about  $270, 000 each , while those who suffered injuries in the crash will get SR500, 000, about $35, 000) each.

The King also ordered that two relatives of the dead foreign pilgrims will be the King’s guests for the Hajj of 2016, while those pilgrims who are unable to perform this year’s Hajj due to their injury will be brought to perform the 2016 Hajj as the King’s guests.

“As for those pilgrims who are supposed to remain at hospitals for some more time, their relatives will be granted special visit visas to take care of them at hospitals during the remaining period of the Hajj season until they return home,” the King’s order stated.

Six Nigerian pilgrims died in the disaster, four from Gombe and one each from Kaduna and Katsina.

Saudis, Iranians, Malaysians, Indonesians, Britons and Indians were also among the 111 dead. The number of the injured was 331.

The  gesture of the Saudi King has meanwhile been applauded by  a spokesman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON)

“We are happy for the compensation though we lost our citizens and no money or compensation can bring them back. It shows the Saudi Authority is following the tenets of Islam on such matter. As it is their responsibility as hosts to ensure the welfare of their guests,”Alhaji Uba Mana said.

He added that the announcement that those not satisfied with the compensation can go to court for more redress also shows that the Saudi government shares the pains of the families and countries of those affected by the incident.


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