The death toll for Pakistani pilgrims at this year’s Hajj reached 58, contributing to the global tally exceeding 1,000, as reported by AFP on Thursday. Extreme heat in Saudi Arabia during the Hajj has been particularly harsh, affecting nearly half of the deceased who were unregistered.
Abdul Wahab Soomro, director general of Pakistan’s Hajj Mission, reported on June 18 that 35 Pakistani deaths had occurred, with the fatalities spread across several holy sites.
A spokesperson from the religious affairs ministry highlighted the severe weather conditions, with temperatures reaching 50 degrees Celsius, posing significant challenges for the pilgrims.
Accusations of neglect toward pilgrims on social media were firmly denied as baseless, with assurances of reliance on verified information from Saudi authorities.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has publicly mourned the loss of the pilgrims and directed efforts to repatriate the deceased to Pakistan. He has also ordered the provision of comprehensive medical and logistical support to the pilgrims.
Recent reports include 58 fatalities from Egypt, with a diplomat revealing that a significant number of the Egyptian deceased were unregistered.
The annual pilgrimage has seen reports from about 10 countries, totalling 1,081 deaths.
Saudi Arabia’s meteorological centre recorded temperatures as high as 51.8 degrees Celsius near Makkah’s Grand Mosque this week.
Tens of thousands annually undertake the Hajj without official permits, often due to the high costs involved. Despite efforts to manage unregistered pilgrims, many participated in the rites, facing increased vulnerability to the heat.
Egyptian officials are currently intensifying efforts to gather data and assist their nationals, facing challenges due to the high number of unregistered pilgrims.
Indonesia reported 183 deaths among its pilgrims, according to its Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Other countries, including Malaysia, India, Jordan, Iran, Senegal, Tunisia, Sudan, and Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region, have also reported fatalities.
Amid these soaring temperatures, friends and family members have been actively searching for missing pilgrims.
Saudi authorities are handling the burials of deceased pilgrims, adhering to their established protocols, despite the challenges in notifying all families promptly.
