The annual Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, known as the Hajj, has witnessed a tragic toll this year as scores of pilgrims succumbed to extreme heat. Among the deceased, 68 were identified as Indians, a diplomat revealed to AFP.
On Tuesday, AFP reported that the death toll had reached at least 550, with 323 Egyptians dying from heat-related illnesses. This information was provided by two Arab diplomats. Temperatures soared to a scorching 51.8 degrees Celsius in the shade at the Grand Mosque in Mecca on Monday, as per the Saudi media reports.
Prior to these death reports, Saudi authorities had not observed any unusual fatalities among the pilgrims despite the extreme temperatures, a health official told Reuters. However, Saudi Arabia has not officially disclosed the number of deaths. Various countries, including Jordan and Tunisia, have confirmed fatalities among their pilgrims due to the severe heat, as reported by AP.
Security measures were stringent at the medical complex in Mecca, where an official read out the names and nationalities of the deceased. Among those named were pilgrims from Algeria, Egypt, and India. Only individuals who identified themselves as relatives of the deceased were allowed entry into the complex. Witnesses also reported seeing some pilgrims faint during the symbolic stoning of the devil ritual.
The Hajj pilgrimage, which began on Friday and concluded on Wednesday, is a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for able-bodied Muslims. Millions of Muslims travel to Mecca annually to perform religious rites that were taught by the Prophet Mohammad 14 centuries ago. This year, over 1.83 million Muslims participated in the Hajj, including more than 1.6 million pilgrims from 22 countries and around 222,000 Saudi citizens and residents, according to Saudi Hajj authorities, as cited by AP.
Many pilgrims from low-income nations make the journey to Mecca every year, often without any prior healthcare. An article in the April edition of the Journal of Infection and Public Health highlighted that communicable diseases could spread among the elderly pilgrims who often have pre-existing health conditions and have spent their life savings to undertake the pilgrimage.
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In a significant development, 2025 will mark the last Hajj to be performed during the summer season. Islam follows a lunar calendar, which causes the Hajj to occur around 11 days earlier each year.
Hussein Al-Qahtani, spokesman of the Saudi National Meteorological Center, informed Saudi Gazette that from 2026 onwards, the Hajj will take place during cooler months for the next 17 years, entering a new phase of climate conditions.
As the global Muslim community mourns the loss of their fellow pilgrims, the extreme weather conditions and the lack of adequate healthcare highlight the challenges faced by millions during this sacred journey.
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