98 Inidan among 1,301 pilgrims died during Haj due to extreme heat

Riyadh, 24 June (HS): Saudi Arabia officials said that extreme heat in Saudi Arabia has taken a toll of at least 1,301 pilgrims during the Haj. The heat wave has affected the health services adversely. The deceased include 98 Indians. The majority of those who died were from Egypt. The temperature in Mecca was recorded at 51.66 degrees Celsius on last Monday.

According to Saudi Arabia Health Minister Fahad bin-Abdurraheman Al-Jalajel, 83 per cent of the pilgrims who died had used unlawful methods for the pilgrimage. They were traveling long distances in high temperatures without any rest. The deceased include the aged and sick people. Identifying them posed problems as they lacked valid documents in their possession. Now all the deceased have been identified, he added.

The health minister said 95 Haj pilgrims are being treated in hospitals, some in Riyadh. The deceased were buried in Mecca.

Saudi Arabia had allowed about 18 lakh (1.8 million) for the Haj. Hundreds of others joined the pilgrimage without permission, which affected the facilities created by the government. The illegal entrants had to sleep in the open sky and could not avail of the official transport facilities.

Indian Foreign Affairs Ministry said that 1.75 lakh people reached Saudi Arabia every year for the Haj. The ministry confirmed the death of 98. Last year, 187 pilgrims died during Haj.