Cairo: An Indian pilgrim had given birth to a baby boy on the early hours of the Eid Al Fitr at a hospital linked to the Grand Mosque in the Saudi city of Mecca, a medical official has said.
The woman in her 20s had been admitted to Al Haram Hospital, located on the northern side of the Grand Mosque, in birth labour, Saudi news portal Sabq reported.
She had a natural childbirth and her baby is in good health.
“We shared the pilgrim her jubilation, making our joy double on the occasion of Eid Al Fitr and the arrival of the first newborn on these blessed days,” Dr Abdullah bin Faisal, the supervisor of Al Haram Hospital and medical centres.
The woman and her baby were later transferred to a maternity hospital.
Al Haram Hospital, located opposite the King Abdullah gate of the mosque, offers emergency services to pilgrims and workshops round the clock.
Saudi Arabia saw an influx of pilgrims during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan that ended on Sunday and followed by Eid Al Fitr. Ramadan is a usual peak season for Umrah.
The kingdom has recently eased measures for performing umrah after largely relaxing restrictions against COVID-19.
Authorities have lifted several precautionary measures including cancellations of permits for praying at the Grand Mosque, Islam’s holiest site, and visiting the Prophet’s Mohammed Mosque in Medina.
The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has said the immunisation check to enter both holy sites has been scrapped for all worshippers.
