Hajj Pilgrimage Deaths 2024: Extreme Heat Claims 1,300 Lives, Including 100 Indians
On Sunday, Saudi Arabia reported that over 1,300 people died during the Hajj pilgrimage due to a severe heatwave.
The Saudi government stated that 83% of the deceased were "unauthorized to perform Hajj" and had walked long distances in direct sunlight without proper shelter. Many of the victims were elderly and chronically ill. The health system treated numerous cases of heat stress, with some individuals still receiving care.
On Monday, Mecca's temperature hit a record 125 degrees (52 degrees Celsius) Fahrenheit. Authorities said issues arose due to many unofficial pilgrims.
India's External Affairs Ministry reported on Friday that 98 of the deceased were Indian. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal mentioned that 175,000 Indian pilgrims had visited Hajj this year.
More than 660 Egyptians were among the dead. Officials in Cairo said all but 31 of them were unauthorized pilgrims.
Hajj permits are given to countries based on a quota system and cost thousands of dollars each. Many pilgrims try to go without permits to save money.
This leads to more death deaths, who suffer more from heatstroke due to lack of access to proper facilities and air-conditioned areas.
A senior Saudi official defended the response, saying the state did not fail but that some people underestimated the risks. This year, 1.8 million pilgrims participated in the Hajj, the same number as last year, with nearly 1.6 million coming from abroad.
The Hajj date shifts about 11 days earlier each year in the Gregorian calendar and will likely occur in early June next year.
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