1,301 pilgrims died during Hajj, confirms Saudi govt

The Saudi Ministry of Health has released a statement on the deaths of pilgrims during the Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Health Minister Fahd bin Abdul Rahman said that 1.301 pilgrims died during the Hajj this year.

He said that these deaths were due to lack of proper shelter and walking for long distances in direct sunlight without rest.

The Saudi minister further said the dead pilgrims include many elderly people and people suffering from chronic diseases, while 83 per cent of the casualties were of pilgrims who had joined the Hajj without permission.

Earlier, an Arab diplomat said that among those who died during the Hajj, the number of Egyptian pilgrims alone is at least 600.

On the other hand, Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs confirmed that 35 Pakistanis died due to heatwave during Hajj.

According to Director General of Pakistan Hajj Mission Abdul Wahab Soomro, four Pakistanis died in Mina, 3 in Arafat and 2 in Muzdalifah, while 20 Pakistani pilgrims died in Makkah and 6 in Madinah.

It should be noted that this year 1.8 million people performed Hajj. During the Hajj, the temperature reached 51.8 degrees Celsius.