Akshata Sharma
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NEW DELHI: At least 550 pilgrims lost their lives during the Hajj this year due to heat related issues, according to Arab diplomats. The temperature at the Grand Mosque in Mecca on Monday reached 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 Fahrenheit), according to the Saudi national meteorology centre.
The majority of the dead were Egyptians, with 323 succumbing primarily to heat-related illnesses.
"All of them (the Egyptians) died because of heat," said a diplomat, except for one who sustained fatal injuries during a minor crowd crush. The total figure was obtained from the hospital morgue in Mecca's Al-Muaisem neighbourhood.
In addition to the Egyptian casualties, at least 60 Jordanians also perished during the pilgrimage, bringing the total reported deaths from various countries to 577, according to an AFP tally.
The diplomats confirmed that the Al-Muaisem morgue, one of the largest in Mecca, recorded a total of 550 deaths.
Saudi authorities reported treating over 2,000 pilgrims for heat stress but have not provided updated figures or information on fatalities since Sunday.
Despite Saudi officials advising pilgrims to use umbrellas, stay hydrated, and avoid sun exposure during the hottest hours, many Hajj rituals require being outdoors for extended periods during the day.
Some pilgrims reported seeing motionless bodies on the roadside and overwhelmed ambulance services.
This year, around 1.8 million pilgrims participated in the Hajj, with 1.6 million coming from abroad. However, tens of thousands of pilgrims attempt to perform the Hajj without securing official visas each year to save money, which is more dangerous as they cannot access air-conditioned facilities provided by Saudi authorities along the route.
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