Hajj pilgrims decry overcrowding and filth: "Hajj Committee only cares about money"
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Indian Hajj pilgrims paying over ₹4 lakh each have complained of severe overcrowding, unhygienic conditions, and mismanagement in their Mecca accommodation during the 2026 season.
Reports and social media videos reveal up to 16 people crammed into single rooms at a hostel in Mecca's Azizia area, with families separated. Footage shows wet, dirty floors, stagnant water, broken washrooms, and non-functional lifts—challenges that hit elderly pilgrims hardest.
Distressed voices in clips question the ordeal: "We have paid so much, how were we to know it would be like this?" and "You are asking us to adjust for two days, how will we manage?" One pilgrim branded the Hajj Committee of India "thieves" who have "taken all the money," while another lamented "no proper facilities" as authorities "only care about money."
A pilgrim from Khandwa, now in Madina, described tiny rooms with three beds squeezed into spaces for one, forcing clashes among those of "different temperaments." He urged "at least four people per room, properly arranged" in Mecca, warning that without fixes, a near-month-long stay could hinder prayers.
The uproar intensified after Sanjay Singh shared site videos on Friday, demanding intervention. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh acknowledged complaints, tagging the Hajj Mission for review. The Indian Hajj Pilgrims Office described it as a "minor plumbing issue," now "promptly attended to and resolved," reaffirming pilgrims' "safety, comfort, and well-being" as top priorities.
Opposition figures piled on: Kunwar Danish Ali grilled Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, noting his praise for Hajjj as a "once-in-a-lifetime dream" just after imposing a ₹10,000 "differential airfare" levy. Hajj Welfare Committee chairman Muqeet Khan vowed to press the Hajj Committee for better planning, decrying annual lapses. "Pilgrims save for years and perform Hajj once in life—they deserve arrangements that protect worship," he said.
The extra charge had already drawn fire from Asaduddin Owaisi as "exploitation," with Khan calling last-minute demands—sometimes notified en route to airports—"not appropriate," eroding trust.