Extreme Heat Claims Lives During Haj: Over 35 Pakistanis Among 900 Fatalities

At least 35 Pakistanis were among more than 900 people who died during this year's Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, marked by extreme heat and harsh weather. The Pakistan Ministry of Religious Affairs highlighted the difficulties faced due to temperatures reaching 51.8 degrees Celsius. Saudi Arabia reported over 2,700 cases of heat exhaustion.

In a tragic turn of events, over 35 Pakistani pilgrims were counted among the more than 900 fatalities during this year's Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. The intense heatwave, with temperatures soaring to unprecedented levels, posed significant challenges for the participants. Pakistan's Ministry of Religious Affairs acknowledged the harsh conditions, attributing the catastrophic figures to the extreme heat that gripped the region, reaching up to 51.8 degrees Celsius at the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

Abdul Wahab Soomro, Director General of Pakistan's Haj Mission, confirmed the numbers with 20 casualties in Makkah, followed by six in Madina, four in Mina, three in Arafat, and two in Muzdalifah. Reacting to the fatalities, the Saudi government has put in place a system for burials in Haramain, and provisions exist to repatriate the bodies of deceased Pakistani pilgrims upon the request of their families.

Although Saudi authorities have yet to officially disclose comprehensive data on the fatalities, their reports included over 2,700 cases of heat exhaustion on a single day. Soomro advised the public to disregard unverified social media posts about the conditions of pilgrims, emphasizing the importance of relying on confirmed information.

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