About 2 million pilgrims went to the Mina Valley on Sunday morning for main hajj rituals. They will spend the night in the valley preparing for the stand on Arafat Mount.

Saudi authorities have taken security precautions, bearing in mind deaths of pilgrims in hajj crowds in the previous years. A total of $347 million have been spent on the development of the Mina Valley infrastructure by this season. Five civil defense centers have been opened, and 29 security, firemen, rescuer and technician teams are standing guard. They will come to pilgrims’ rescue if necessary.

Some 353,000 cubic meters of water will be daily supplied to pilgrims from Mecca.

Saudi King Abdallah and Crown Prince Sultan will personally inspect the position of pilgrims later in the day.
More than 12,000 Russian pilgrims from Dagestan, Tatarstan, Chechnya, Bashkortostan, Moldovia, Moscow and other places are taking part in this year’s hajj.

Source: Itar-Tass