Pilgrims begin leaving Mecca as Hajj draws to a close

Pilgrims from over the world have started leaving the holy sites of Mecca asthe Hajj pilgrimage season drew to a close on Thursday.

Senior Saudi officials said the rituals had passed without incident this year. Mecca province Governor Prince Khaled Al Faisal, said that the total security personnel deployed reached 250,000, adding that the number of pilgrims without an entry permit reached 110,000. Pilgrims were given electronic bracelets this year to help manage the flow of people through the sites, reported Al Arabiya

"Decrease in the quantity of infringement this year is an incredible achievement, contrasted with the numbers in earlier years, which added up to half of the quantity of travelers." reported Al Arabiya News Channel.

Police and traffic personnel in their hundreds ensuring smooth traffic across #StreetsofMecca . #Hajj2018 pic.twitter.com/Gs3pVhUa3s

— Ehtesham Shahid (@e2sham) August 21, 2018

No less than 1.2 million travelers left in the wake of finishing up their goodbye tawaf (hovering of the Kaaba) by Thursday night. 

"There are as yet an enormous number of pioneers who have stayed in the blessed destinations as some of them need to partake amid tomorrow's Friday petitions," reported Al Arabiya.

It's around 2am and there is no slowing down of pilgrims performing tawaaf and saee: #Hajj2018: pic.twitter.com/b9bL3FT9oC

— Ehtesham Shahid (@e2sham) August 21, 2018