530 Pilgrims DEAD at Hajj: Shocking Reason You Won’t Believe!

Tragic Hajj! Over 500 pilgrims died, mostly Egyptians on illegal visas lacking proper facilities. Heatstroke due to harsh conditions is suspected as a major cause. Some Indian deaths occurred too, with heat impacting Arafat rituals.

CONTENTS: 530 Pilgrims DEAD at Hajj

• Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca
• Hajj pilgrim limits by country
• Heatstroke risk for illegal pilgrims
• Heat deaths for some Indians
• Burial in Saudi Arabia

Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca

530 Pilgrims DEAD at Hajj

Hajj, meaning “to set out for a place,” is one of the five fundamental pillars of Islam, requiring every Muslim to undertake the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. The origins of Hajj date back approximately 4000 years to Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham). This pilgrimage occurs annually during the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah, specifically from the 8th to the 12th or 13th day, over a period of five or six days.

Pilgrims perform a series of sacred rituals centered in and around Mecca, including circumambulating the Kaaba, traversing between the hills of Safa and Marwa, praying at Mount Arafat, and symbolically stoning the devil in the valley of Mina.

Hajj quotas refer to the limits set by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia on the number of pilgrims allowed to participate in the Hajj pilgrimage from each country. These quotas are allocated annually and are generally based on the Muslim population of each country. As the number of pilgrims has increased over the years, Saudi authorities have invested heavily in improving infrastructure to accommodate them. The allocation of quotas involves diplomatic negotiations, with countries often advocating for larger quotas based on various factors.

This year, several hundred pilgrims have tragically lost their lives during the Hajj pilgrimage. According to a Reuters report, the majority of these deaths, totaling 530, have been from Egypt. Many Egyptian pilgrims arrived on tourist visas, which are considered illegal by Saudi Arabia, and therefore they lacked access to official Hajj facilities such as air-conditioned tents.

An official from India based in Jeddah highlighted that those who passed away often had inadequate accommodations, sleeping on the streets with minimal shelter. This precarious situation significantly increased their vulnerability to the harsh conditions, contributing to the high number of fatalities.

This year, according to Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), a total of 98 Indians have passed away during the Hajj pilgrimage. Jaiswal clarified that these deaths were primarily due to natural causes such as illness, chronic conditions, and old age. Comparatively, last year saw 187 Indian pilgrims lose their lives during Hajj.

Jaiswal noted that on the day of Arafat, which is a critical day during Hajj, several pilgrims, including six Indians, suffered due to extreme heat. An official from India stationed in Jeddah informed The Indian Express that two to three Indian pilgrims specifically succumbed to the intense heat during this period.

When a pilgrim dies during Hajj, the local hospital or mortuary notifies the representative of their country. The consulate then verifies the person’s identity and obtains a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the family for burial in Saudi Arabia. In most cases, families consent to the burial in Saudi Arabia. The deceased are laid to rest in properly marked graves.