Stone-casting ritual in tip-top shape for saturday

Saudi authorities emphasized on Friday the total readiness to assist all Hajj pilgrims to go through the massive stone-casting ritual beginning tomorrow and for several days after.
To ensure fluidity and ease of movement of tens of thousands of Hajj pilgrims pursuing this seminal ritual, the Saudi ministry of municipal and rural affairs has prepared four-storey pathways for them to walk on assisted by six medical emergency centers along the way, with nearby access to a subway and a number of heliports for speedy evacuation in the event of an untoward accident of mammoth proportions, said the ministry spokesman Saud Al-Thikri who is in charge of project management at the ministry.
To avoid over-crowdedness at these enormous pathways that must be taken by pilgrims on their way to do the stone-casting ritual the ministry has provided 12 entry and exit points, he said, stressing that the flow of crowds is closely monitored by Saudi Hajj authorities to prevent any accidental stampedes.
Furthermore, the pathways go in one direction which keeps the flow moving seamlessly with no tie-ups to mention, he said.