Six Hajj Pilgrims Die From Heatstroke In Mecca Amid Soaring Temperatures

Riyadh: A sad incident has come to light from Mecca, where at least six people lost their lives during the holy Hajj pilgrimage due to heatstroke, CNN reported on Sunday. The deceased pilgrims were from Jordan, confirmed the Jordanian foreign ministry on Saturday, adding that the country is coordinating with Saudi officials in Jeddah regarding the burial procedures and the probable return of their bodies to Jordan. The news of the fatalities comes as pilgrims gathered atop Mount Arafat on Saturday, commemorating the pilgrimage’s main event.

The Saudi General Authority for Statistics reported that over 1.8 million pilgrims will perform Haj this year.

The Haj is one of the world’s largest religious gatherings and the major annual event in Saudi Arabia. It is considered one of the five pillars of Islam.

This year, Saudi Arabia is experiencing excessive heat throughout the five-day pilgrimage, with temperatures hitting 48 degrees Celsius in Mecca.

According to the state news agency SPA, Haj officials are advising pilgrims to bring umbrellas and stay hydrated under extreme weather conditions. The Saudi army has also dispatched over 1,600 soldiers, including medical units specialised for heatstroke and 30 rapid response teams, according to CNN. Another 5,000 health and first aid volunteers are taking part.

Jordan had said that its official delegation this year consisted of over 4,000 pilgrims.

However, the foreign ministry confirmed that the six who died were not members of the “official delegation,” which meant they lacked proper Hajj licences to conduct the journey, according to CNN.

The spiritual journey incorporates a variety of detailed rites. These include wearing ritualistic clothing that represents equality and unity under God’s gaze, marching counter-clockwise around the Kaaba, and enacting symbolic aggression towards evil by throwing stones. Individuals who have completed this sacred expedition often opt to add ‘al-Haj’ or ‘hajji’, nurturing their identity with a marker of their pilgrimage experience.

In the last decade, Saudi Arabia has committed substantial resources to improve transport, tech, and amenities for those embarking on the Haj pilgrimage. This group is fundamentally important in boosting the economy of the world’s leading oil giant.