Saudi king imposes penalty on Binladin Group after Makkah crane crash
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RIYADH: Saudi Arabia's King Salman on Tuesday sanctioned the Saudi Binladin Group for last Friday's crane collapse at Makkah's Grand Mosque, which killed more than 100 people days before the Haj pilgrimage.
The construction firm belongs to the family of the late al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
An investigative committee concluded that the company “was in part responsible” for Friday's tragedy, which killed at least 107 people and injured almost 400 during a severe thunderstorm accompanied by violent winds.
Investigators found that the crane was allegedly “in a wrong position” when the high winds struck, as its main arm should have been lowered, the official Saudi Press Agency said.
“The position of the crane was in violation of operating instructions prepared by the manufacturer,” SPA said, adding there had been no response to several letters from concerned authorities about that crane and others.
The firm's executives have been forbidden from leaving the kingdom pending the completion of legal action, SPA said, adding that Salman ordered prosecutors to prepare an indictment.
Until the case is closed, the company will also be excluded from new public projects.
Moreover, Saudi Royal Court has announced one million riyals as compensation for the bereaved families of martyrs and half million for injured of Makkah crane crash incident, Radio Pakistan reported on its website.
The Royal Court, however, said it did not find any conspiracy in its preliminary investigations into the incident.
It said that incident happened due to wrong positioning of the crane.
Also read: Karachi pilgrim recounts Makkah tragedy
According to Saudi Binladin Group's website, the company has worked on numerous prominent projects in Saudi Arabia including Al-Faisaliah tower in central Riyadh, King Abdullah Financial District, universities and the King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah.
Saudi Arabia's ministry of finance has been ordered to “urgently review all current government projects being executed by the Group and others to ensure compliance with safety procedures”, SPA said.
Saudi Binladin Group had been working for four years on a multi-billion-dollar 400,000-square-metre enlargement of the Grand Mosque, to accommodate increasing numbers of pilgrims.
At least 11 Pakistanis have been confirmed dead in the crane accident in Makkah's Grand Mosque on Friday, which resulted in the deaths of at least 107 pilgrims.
Meanwhile, according to Saudi media reports, the number of those who died in the incident is 15.
At least 47 Pakistanis were injured in the crane accident, earlier reports had said.
A massive construction crane crashed into Makkah's Grand Mosque in stormy weather Friday, killing at least 107 people and injuring 238, Saudi authorities said, less than a fortnight before the Haj pilgrimage starts.
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Comments (101) Closed
Sep 15, 2015 10:02pm
Just one million Riyals ie. $250,000. This is not enough. Somebody has to talk with the Saudis.
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Sep 15, 2015 10:02pm
Justified n brave decision.
I know this world still have strong & sympathetic rulers...
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Sep 15, 2015 10:09pm
That's the way to do it KSA.
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Sep 15, 2015 10:13pm
Peanuts, $250,000 only. Pakistani Govt can do better than this. These Saudis charges $10,000 from each pilgrim from US only, its a business for them, in the name of profit loots pilgrims. Old habits die hard.
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Sep 15, 2015 10:15pm
@Kh
Justified?
$250,000.00 for over a hundred dead. How is that justified?
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Sep 15, 2015 10:22pm
There is no other language people understand than penalty; for example in foreign countries why people obey traffic rules, yes, penalty. Correct you are!
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Sep 15, 2015 10:26pm
@Iqbal Malik in Saudi Arabia the standard is $70,000 for accidental death. It is automatic. That is the price of 100 camels.
The money goes directly to the wife or the decedents. No lawyers are involved.
The $250K is unprecedented, it should be appealed. Because where did they come up with a new non-Shari value.
If so then it means that other deaths were not fully compensated. BTW the 250 is over and above any other insurance money.
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Sep 15, 2015 10:33pm
@Zubaida khan
They should have given more money to injured. Injured guys have to suffer whole life plus medical cost
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Sep 15, 2015 10:33pm
@Iqbal Malik WOULD YOU please mention how much was paid by US and UK govt to the bereaved families after 9/11 and London train bombings? it wasnt intentional murder, it was an accident and till now no country in the world has paid even quarter of this money in cash to the accident victims.
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Sep 15, 2015 10:33pm
That is about $2500 or Rs 250,000 for each death ! that is all ?
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Sep 15, 2015 10:41pm
@Iqbal Malik Since when did US Dollars become the currency of Saudi Arabia?
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Sep 15, 2015 10:43pm
Seems fair compensation. Actually quite generous.
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Sep 15, 2015 10:53pm
@Iqbal Malik $250,000 IS NOT ENOUGH???!!!! What is the price of a common man's life in Pakistan?
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Sep 15, 2015 10:53pm
@Reality "Pakistani Govt can do better than this"
Even 250K USD comes to 2.63 crore PKR. You really think the Pak government would have allocated more per person as compensation? Show me cases where the govt has even allocated 1 crore as compensation for religious or other accidents?
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Sep 15, 2015 10:54pm
@Reality "Pakistani Govt can do better than this"
Even 250K USD comes to 2.63 crore PKR. You really think the Pak government would have allocated more per person as compensation? Show me cases where the govt has even allocated 1 crore as compensation for religious or other accidents?
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Sep 15, 2015 10:59pm
@Reality Saudi Govt. do not charge money for Pilgrimage. Stop spreading rumors
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Sep 15, 2015 11:00pm
@Reality Correct yourself. Saudi Government levies no fees or taxes on Haj. All you have to pay is for Airfare, Food & Accommodation, Transportation and other services provided to the pilgrims. Yes, it is a business but for service providers and not for the Saudi Government. By the way, the expenses for most of the pilgrims from Asia and Africa are not more than US $4,000.
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Sep 15, 2015 11:21pm
It makes almost 9000 rials per casualty = 250000 PKR... not so generous these saudis!
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Sep 15, 2015 11:24pm
@Iqbal Malik : That is over Rupees 2 crores 61 lacs in Pak Rupees! for each martyred and Rupees one crore 30 lacs for the injured !
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Sep 15, 2015 11:28pm
@Iqbal Malik 1 million riyal per family is approximately PKR 28 mio or PKR 2.8 crore per family! While no loss can be compensated by any monetary benefit, this is good and money they have announced!
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Sep 15, 2015 11:48pm
this money is for single casualty and not for all 107 persons .. Please be clear headed. Its more than enough for single person death.
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Sep 15, 2015 11:50pm
@Zeezoo Statistics for VCF 2001-2003:
The fund received 7,408 claim submissions from 75 countries. Awards were made in 5,560 of those cases and totaled over $7 billion.
The fund received 2,963 death claims. This accounted for more than 98% of eligible families. Funds were distributed in 2,880 of these cases. The average award was $2,082,128 and went as high as $7.1 million.
The fund received 4,445 personal injury claims. Funds were distributed in 2,680 of these cases. The awards ranged from $500.00 to $8.6 million.
The money was tax-free.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/07/27/us/september-11th-victim-aid-and-compensation-fast-facts/
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Sep 16, 2015 12:06am
Saudi government earns over 5 billion dollars in Haj season through visa fees and other charges. This is in addition to the profits of Saudi Airlines, hotels, transporters, etc. Haj has been going on for over 1400 years. There is no sudden surge in the number of Hajis. Many world cities have had mass transport systems since before world war two. Yet there is not mass transport between Makkah, Madinah, Mina, Arafat, Makkah. Usual drive from Arafat to Mina is about 5 minutes. Yet it took our bus about 16 hours to cover the same distance during Haj. Is this management or mismanagement.
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Sep 16, 2015 12:11am
@Iqbal Malik If a person dies in Pakistan, the government compensation is $5000 only.
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Sep 16, 2015 12:19am
Hey New King I already like you. Women will vote,will soon drive and hopefully you will invite at least one Syrian refugee.
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Sep 16, 2015 12:30am
@Faisal this compensation is for each.
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Sep 16, 2015 12:34am
King Salman also ordered the payment of the following to the families of the victims:
1. SR1,000,000 to the family of each person killed in this accident;
2. SR1,000,000 to each injured whose injury resulted in permanent disability;
3. SR500,000 to each of the other injured.
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Sep 16, 2015 12:38am
@S. I. Rafiq To be frank...common man's life in Pakistan is worthless.
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Sep 16, 2015 12:45am
The Pakistani foreign office to help those Pakistanis who were affected by this tragedy in filling up their forms these poor pakistani deserve every penny of the compensation please fill up their forms and tell them it is not a sin to take compensation for your injuries and your bereavements The pakistsni Embassy in Mecca should come out and sport it's citizens
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Sep 16, 2015 01:07am
It is just like touching with a finger those responsible for the deaths of 107 people and injuries to 400.Would have they imposed the same penalty if some other nationals were involved?. At least Bin Ladin Group should be asked to pay proper amount to the legal heirs of deceased and injured persons.
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Sep 16, 2015 01:10am
I checked elsewhere and it is 1Million Riyals or approx 2.7 crore Rupees or 270,000 USD PER VICTIM to the family of the deceased or permanently disabled. Unheard of compensation for an unfortunate accident. Similarly, 1.35 Crore Rupees to those who were grievously injured. Furthermore, 2 members, from each affected family, will be hosted by the King for Hajj 2016, at their expense.
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Sep 16, 2015 01:14am
The million dollar question is why the elite are building mega malls and mega hotels around the sacred Kaa'baa?
Where is the sanctity of Kaa'baa?
There appears to be no end to this commercialization that is going on in the name of expansion!
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Sep 16, 2015 01:15am
Saudi have flooded Egyptians into construction positions and I am told, standards have fallen to dangerous levels.
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Sep 16, 2015 01:16am
It is very astonishing to note that the world media is reporting 107 deaths as a result of the crane incident. And the Saudi Media speaks about 15 deaths only. What a difference ! Why this difference between the figures of Saudi authorities and Saudi media.
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Sep 16, 2015 01:17am
@Iqbal Malik how much pay
govt gives against such incidents, you know It? Also most of the time those promises are found to be empty promises, so please let us be thankful,they are not pak got.
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Sep 16, 2015 01:18am
@Faisal nonsense read the news properly. It is against each death.
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Sep 16, 2015 01:20am
@S. I. Rafiq you tell me, how much pak govt gives and in many cases never paid just empty promises,so let us be thankful.
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Sep 16, 2015 01:27am
@Goga Nalaik what's wrong with you guys. The Saudi govt agreed to give Sr 1 million = Sr 10 lakh for each victim who died. Now calculate in pak Rs? Dumb,be grateful, pak govt gives peanuts and that too in many instances only empty promises. So, please, grow up. Yes! It may not compensate for life lost but at least the amount will be paid to the heir directly no pak govt involvement.
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Sep 16, 2015 01:27am
The accident took place because of human errors: In case of high winds and bad weather, by lowering the crane's extensions and jibs, the center of gravity could have been brought closer to ground and thus reduced the intensity of vibrations due to high winds.
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Sep 16, 2015 01:32am
@A To whom does the Visa fee go?
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Sep 16, 2015 01:32am
@Pakistani
Cmon. Update your knowledge my fellow citizen and Google Haramain High Speed Rail project and also search for Mina to Arafat Rail system.
Saudi DOES NOT earn $-5Billion in visa fees.
We're happy to pay visa fee to the US embassy but we're not happy to pay it for Haj, where Saudis have kept in place best in practice hostpitality management of over 3Million people for Hajj every year.
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Sep 16, 2015 01:33am
@Goga Nalaik: It is 1 million Riyal per person not for all. It is equivalent to 2.78 crores Pk. Rupees. $250,000 USD. How come this is peanut?
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Sep 16, 2015 01:37am
@Zubaida khan Now I am more surprised. $70K per person is honestly too low. It should be many fold more and should be considered other factors like number of dependents, status in life, current income etc etc.
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Sep 16, 2015 01:38am
The compensation is 1 million Riyals EACH. See: http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/saudi-arabia/makkah-crane-victims-to-get-1m-riyals-each-1.1584675
Also, two relatives of each victim will be hosted by King Salman to perform pilgrimage next year, according to the royal order.
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Sep 16, 2015 01:39am
@S. I. Rafiq Negative $250,000.00. Is this right?
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Sep 16, 2015 01:40am
@Iqbal Malik it has to be One Million Riyal to each affected family.
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Sep 16, 2015 01:43am
@timetostopthis Are they paying to Saudis ONLY? also, How many people knows the value of the Riyal? and how many people know the value of the $. Is this make sense.
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Sep 16, 2015 02:12am
To clarify the ambiguity over the compensations to the Hajj tragedy victims:
King Salman also ordered the payment of the following to the families of the victims:
1. SR1,000,000 to the family of each person killed in this accident;
2. SR1,000,000 to each injured whose injury resulted in permanent disability;
3. SR500,000 to each of the other injured.
According to SPA, such payment would not deprive the families of the deceased as well as the injured from the right to claim for private right before the competent judicial authorities.
The king also issuef directives to host two family members of the deceased as the king's guests to perform Haj next year.
“The injured who cannot perform Haj this year can perform Hajjnext year as the king's guests. The families of the injured who stay in hospitals for treatment shall be granted visit visas to take care of the injured during the remaining period of Hajj and return back to their country,” the royal court said.
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Sep 16, 2015 02:21am
@Pakistani: Get you facts straight dude, there is NO visa fee charges that the Saudi government. If there is an agent involved in processing your visa he might charge for his services but that money doesn't go to the Saudi government.
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Sep 16, 2015 02:30am
@Raza Medical costs are covered, and Raza this is as per Sharia, loss of life is more valuable than non-loss.
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Sep 16, 2015 02:32am
If its 1 million Ryals per family and 500,000 Ryals for injured --- sounds OK. And if thats the case , i am surprised that people are criticizing it.
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Sep 16, 2015 02:40am
@Iqbal Malik Malik Sahab, be grateful. Pak would not have given the families even Rs. 25,000 (Pakistani rupees, that is).
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Sep 16, 2015 02:41am
@S. I. Rafiq They have died in Saudi Arabia not in Pakistan. What are you taking about. If people were died in Saudi Arabia the compensation should be given at their standard not Pakistan standard. And do you think now it is justified what they are giving in compensation. And do not compare Saudi Arabia to others countries.
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Sep 16, 2015 02:42am
@Faisal Faisalbhai, that is per person who died, and not the aggregate award, if that is what you are thinking.
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Sep 16, 2015 02:43am
@salman in most case $1,000 only.
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Sep 16, 2015 02:44am
@M.Saeed Might be misled info. This compensation is for all or for every individual?
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Sep 16, 2015 02:44am
@S. I. Rafiq Rafiq sahib, I could not have said it better myself. Well said, my brother.
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Sep 16, 2015 03:48am
yes, there are some faults, but then again Saudis they are still doing a wonderful job considering millions of people are there whereas if there is any football match in wembley stadium in England which has a capacity of nearly 90000,still there are so many policemen on foot,mounted police and other security personal plus volunteers to make sure smooth process of every thing but still people will not be happy and keep on mourning,please dont forget you have come on pilgrimage,be patient (this is all parts and parcels of this rituals) and InshAllah you will get the reward.
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Sep 16, 2015 04:02am
Saudis have been quick in investigation and penalizing the construction company. This accident appears to be utter negligence and disregard for safety norms. Asian countries should be also quick in action in case of major accidents.
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Sep 16, 2015 04:20am
Amazing how everyone is debating the money and no one cares for the actual people who died
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Sep 16, 2015 04:49am
@Iqbal Malik $250k is better than rs250 pak. In US the compensation is max $300k in murder one
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Sep 16, 2015 04:50am
@Iqbal Malik , Do you know according to Warsaw Convention a victim of airline crash us compensated only for $ 100,000. Some of the victims sue and may get slightly more. So Saudi has come on it's own and is compensating the victims. Binladin construction should pay and not the government
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Sep 16, 2015 04:51am
@Faisal Sir, for each
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Sep 16, 2015 05:09am
@A Totally agree with you. Saudi govt. does not make money from Haj. As a matter of fact they spend billions, to provide amenities to the pilgrims. The money spent by hajis go to private businesses. The visa fee that the Saudi govt. collects, does not offset the billions they spend each year to accommodate growing number of hajis. They really have transformed the whole Haj experience. Every Haji is entitled to free medical care while performing Haj. They have worked hard and made it much safer for hajis to perform the rites. Years ago, there used be accidents every year. Most of those areas are made safer for public. This incident was caused by bad weather and negligent of a private company. I think Saudi response is very adequate.
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Sep 16, 2015 05:15am
I thought Bin Laden was a terrorist and as such all ties with the family and business should also be severed. Am I missing something ?
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Sep 16, 2015 05:19am
@Faisal its per dead
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Sep 16, 2015 05:19am
@Iqbal Malik this is per person not for all !!!
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Sep 16, 2015 05:20am
@Zubaida khan and its per person i dont know why people think its less
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Sep 16, 2015 05:21am
@Reality Saudi gov doesnt pocket anything from that - it includes airticket accomodation and other expenses
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Sep 16, 2015 05:21am
@BULLPITAJI its for each injured
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Sep 16, 2015 06:05am
@Faisal
It's 250.000 to each of the fatally wounded families.
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Sep 16, 2015 06:08am
Long live king Salman may ALLAAH forgive you and grant you Jannah. Saudi Arabia is such a beautiful country and the rulership is brilliant.
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Sep 16, 2015 06:09am
This nonsense, before Saudi official were blaming Wind, why they decided to band Binladen Construction companhy right after this accident.? Compensation for those who died in this tragic accident must be at least one millinoins dallors. Saud Royao Family don't any shortage of money, they can afford it.
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Sep 16, 2015 06:40am
@rogue : are you trying to defend your masters?
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Sep 16, 2015 06:41am
the compensation amounts mentioned in this article are most likey per person. use common sense please.
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Sep 16, 2015 06:45am
At least they have panalyzed responsible company.
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Sep 16, 2015 06:49am
@bb-passport: are you working for Saudi budget and planning department? How can you be sure?
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Sep 16, 2015 06:51am
@ANSER Azim : I wish I was injured :)
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Sep 16, 2015 07:03am
Very prompt and exemplary decision. others should learn from this.
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Sep 16, 2015 07:16am
Only 1 million riyal...it should be 1 million dollars because money can't replace precious life.
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Sep 16, 2015 07:22am
@Reality: Well, the Saudis don't charge you $10K or whatever the amount is! If you plan to stay there for a month, live in 5 star hotel, of course you will end spending $10K or more including the plane fare. If one is going for hajj, shouldn't he or she avoid all the luxuries? And that will bring down the cost to half!
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Sep 16, 2015 08:00am
The penalty should have been closer to a billion US dollars if the intent was to punish and not placate those responsible.
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Sep 16, 2015 08:50am
Every two or three years, there is a major accident during Haj and hundreds of people loose their lives. Haj has been going on for over 1400 years. There is no sudden surge in the number of Hajis. Many world cities have had mass transport systems since before world war two. Yet there is no mass transport between Makkah, Madinah, Mina, Arafat, Makkah. Usual drive from Arafat to Mina is about 5 minutes. Yet it took our bus about 16 hours to cover the same distance during Haj. Is this management or mismanagement.Saudi government earns over 5 billion dollars in Haj season through visa fees and other charges. This is in addition to the profits of Saudi Airlines, hotels, transporters, etc.
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Sep 16, 2015 08:52am
while the compensation is too low the decision to bar Bin Laden group from future projects and restrict their executives is a brave decision.
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Sep 16, 2015 09:11am
SPA said that Salman has ordered payments of one million riyals ($267,000) to the family of each deceased, and at least 500,000 riyals to each injured person.
Each shaheed not All
This is a quick justice from Saudia government.
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Sep 16, 2015 09:28am
10 million riyal is 2.7 crore pkr
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Sep 16, 2015 09:30am
i miilion riyal is 2.7 crore pkr for per family... people r never happy seriously!
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Sep 16, 2015 09:46am
All of a sudden everyone seems to shout on Saudia as it's their fault. It has been a tremendous loss but can anyone stop a natural calamity. That could have been prevented if the cranes were removed before hand but accidents do happen in US UK and Western Europe also for all silly reasons. And people crying about compensation 1 million riyal per person = (for you billionaires to judge).they are doing what they can. Please have some patience and just stop criticising them
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Sep 16, 2015 10:09am
@Iqbal Malik - I think that is a decent compensation.
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Sep 16, 2015 10:18am
Bravo! 1 million SR is a lot of money. Just imagine, Had this incident took place in India or pak, What would have the govt given?
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Sep 16, 2015 10:20am
I hope $1m is for each person who died in the accident......What a vague official announcement!!!!!!!
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Sep 16, 2015 10:20am
While the loss of lives is unfortunate, we have to command the Saudi King for a fair compensation and other reliefs announced. The contractor (Bin-Laden group) should have been more careful in its operations, especially considering the high volume of pilgrims and the importance of the place to 20% of the population of this world. My condolences to the family of the victims and to the victims themselves - RIP.
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Sep 16, 2015 11:23am
@Shujaat Khan just to be clear on the refugees subject, Saudi Arabia allowed millions of Syrians since the war started and not as "refugees", they are treated as citizens starting from health-care to education they're accepted at public schools and universities, and now the same treatment is used for Yemenis as will.
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Sep 16, 2015 11:28am
Guys let me correct these figures, the king ordered to compensate each victim of the family with 1 million Saudi Riyals to each of the victim who lost their family member and 0.5 million riyals to those of permanent disability.
if we count in pak rupees, it makes 2.5 cror rupees for the deceased family and 1.25 cror for permanent disable . Isn't it enough?? we should not criticize all the time, good things must be appreciated.
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Sep 17, 2015 10:28am
Why wasn't the crane inspected for wrong position prior and avoid this horrific incident?
What were the inspectors doing there, if they were unable to notice the higher main arm as a violation to the OEM recommendation???
Propose that the inspectors be also indicted for this accident. If there were no inspectors then the Administration should be indicted for the same for not appointing capable inspectors.
As a way forward...capable inspectors should be appointed with the responsibility to ensure compliance and reporting of deviations.
Regards,
Akilah
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Sep 17, 2015 10:33am
@Iqbal Malik
Promises only!!!
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Sep 17, 2015 03:09pm
People are going KSA after paying a handsome amount for their visit. The Govt of KSA should accept the security of pilgrims as its obligation. If the contractor had not followed the safety rules (and at the extreme risk area, where thousands of people are moving right below thousands of tons of metallic crane!!), he & the in-charge govt official should be investigated, and the govt. should pay the compensation to the suffered families. What Saudis have is not due to their hard work, it is God gifted, so they should show an open heart.
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Sep 17, 2015 03:45pm
I was supervising Saudi Bin Laden company at KAFD Riyadh as Consultant Engineer and it is a fact that this company never pay any attention to safety and violate totally safety rules in the construction. Whenever an engineer issue instruction to them regarding safety compliance they just ignore it straight away and threaten the engineer.
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Sep 17, 2015 03:48pm
It is the contract of the project that if accident occur, the company shall be to the deceased.
It is usually very high amount which is insured, therefore, not only the government but company should also pay according to their contract for the project.
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Sep 18, 2015 08:48am
They should go to prison.
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Sep 18, 2015 05:40pm
This accident was due to incompetence of the Saudis. The compensation announced is a big joke; the victims deserve more. Frankly I have lost all respect for the Saudis.
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