Mecca Hajj Tragedy: 98 Indian Pilgrims Dead, Says External Affairs Ministry

Ninety-eight Indian pilgrims have tragically passed away in Saudi Arabia during this year’s Hajj, the government announced on Friday. According to the official statement, all the deaths were attributed to “natural illness and old age.”

The Ministry of External Affairs said, “Every year, many Indian pilgrims visit Hajj. This year, 1,75,000 Indian pilgrims have visited Saudi for Hajj so far. The core Hajj period is from July 9 to 22. So far, 98 Indian pilgrims have died. The causes are natural illness and old age.”

Last year, the total number of casualties reached 187, according to the report.

Earlier on Tuesday, Arab diplomats confirmed that at least 550 pilgrims had died this year, with the majority of these tragic fatalities attributed to the soaring temperatures in Mecca, as reported by AFP.

The Hajj pilgrimage is one of the five essential pillars of Islam, and every Muslim who has the financial and physical ability is required to undertake this sacred journey at least once in their lifetime.

This year’s pilgrimage experienced an intense heatwave, with temperatures soaring beyond 50 degrees Celsius, marking the highest in recent decades.

A study conducted in Saudi Arabia found that temperatures in the pilgrimage region have increased by 0.4 degrees Celsius every ten years. In 2023, during the Hajj pilgrimage, over 200 pilgrims lost their lives, and more than 2,000 people experienced heat-related stress as temperatures reached 48 degrees Celsius.