Drones to manage Ramadan crowd in Makkah

Makkah: For the first time ever, drones will be used to manage the crowd in Ramazan in Al-Haram Mosque, Saudi media reported.

Saudi Gazette quoted Major General Mohammed Al-Ahmadi, the deputy commander of the Umrah forces, saying, this year’s crowd management plan for Umrah involves security, organisational, and humanitarian aspects.

The publication further noted that “any pilgrims or visitors who show any sign of distress will not be allowed to enter the Grand Mosque for their own safety and that of others.”

Visitors or pilgrims will not be allowed to enter the Haram plazas with their luggage, he added.

In addition to the drones and security aircraft, there will be about 2,500 cameras to monitor the crowd’s movement inside the Mosque.

The security plan will be carried out by 2,400 policemen in addition to 1,300 security patrols that will be roaming the area around the Haram.