98 Indian Pilgrims Succumb to Heatstroke During Hajj

Muslim worshippers pray around the Kaaba, Islam's holiest shrine, at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca on June 13, 2024, ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage. - After travelling from all parts of the globe to Islam’s holiest city, the pilgrims will first perform the “tawaf” – walking seven times around the Kaaba, the giant black cube that Muslims worldwide pray towards every day. (Photo by FADEL SENNA / AFP)

98 Indian pilgrims died during this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia, attributed to natural illness and old age. Over 1,75,000 Indians participated in the pilgrimage, which spans July 9-22. Extreme summer temperatures, reaching 51.8°C in Mecca, marked the challenging conditions faced during the religious obligation, one of Islam’s five pillars.

Comments are closed.