Over 1,300 Hajj Pilgrims Died in Saudi Arabia This Year Due To Extreme Heat, 83% Victims Unregistered
Ninety-eight Indians have died till June 21 during the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca largely due to natural causes, chronic illnesses and old age, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said.
Saudi Arabia's health ministry on Sunday said that the death toll during this year's Hajj pilgrimage has reached 1301. The pilgrimage saw a large number of fatalities due to heat stress and 'unauthorised' pilgrims.
According to CNN, the Saudi government in a statement said, "The health system addressed numerous cases of heat stress this year, with some individuals still under care. Regrettably, the number of mortalities reached 1,301."
According to reports, the deceased included 660 Egyptians, 98 Indians, 60 Jordanians, and five Iranians among others.
Extreme heat was the chief cause of the deaths. Temperatures in Mecca at this time of the year can reach above 50 degrees Celsius. These extreme conditions pose significant health risk for pilgrims, especially older adults and those with underlying health issues.
The government also said that 83% of those who died lacked proper authorisation for the Hajj. These unregistered pilgrims walked long distances under the sun without adequate shelter or hydration.
Saudi Arabia grants only 1.8 million permits for access to Mecca during Hajj. These permits cost thousands of dollars. Unlicensed pilgrims don’t travel in organised tour buses with air conditioning or easy access to water and food supplies making it difficult for authorities to track their movements and ensure their well-being.
Climate Change In Saudi Arabia
Climate change intensified the deadly heatwave that claimed the lives of Hajj pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, according to a rapid analysis by an independent group of climate scientists and researchers.
Large parts of the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East have endured extreme temperatures over the past few weeks. With the Earth's global surface temperature already 1.15 degrees Celsius above the average in 1850-1900, climate scientists say countries need to take urgent action to reduce heat-trapping greenhouse gas emissions by at least 43% by 2030 (compared to 2019 levels) to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
Indian Deaths In Hajj
Ninety-eight Indians have died till June 21 during the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca largely due to natural causes, chronic illnesses and old age, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. The Hajj period is from May 9 to July 22.
As many as 1,75,000 Indian pilgrims visited Mecca for Hajj this year, of which approximately 40,000 were above the age of 60. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the total number of deaths of Indians in the entire Hajj period last year was 187.
(with PTI inputs)
