Religion

Saudi Arabia Reveal the Total Numbers of Pilgrims that Died During 2024 Hajj: Check here

Published by Tope Fakinlede on June 24th, 2024.

Saudi Arabia Reveal the Total Numbers of Pilgrims that Died During 2024 Hajj: Check here

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has reported the deaths of 1,301 pilgrims during this year’s hajj. In an interview on Sunday, Health Minister Fahd Al-Jalajel revealed that 83 percent of these fatalities were unauthorized pilgrims who endured long distances in extreme heat to perform the hajj rituals.

Al-Jalajel mentioned that 95 pilgrims are currently receiving treatment in hospitals, with some being airlifted to Riyadh for medical care. He stated, “1,301 people died during the #Hajj1445 season. May Allah have mercy on them all. Eighty-three percent of them were unauthorized for Hajj, walking long distances under the sun without shelter or rest, including many elderly individuals and people with chronic diseases.”

On May 26, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) reported that Tawakaltu Alako, a Nigerian pilgrim, had collapsed and died in her hotel in Makkah. Since then, NAHCON has noted additional deaths among Nigerian pilgrims during this year’s hajj.

Abubakar Adamu, head of Nigeria’s medical team for the 2024 Hajj, informed journalists on July 17 that a Nigerian pilgrim had died from heatstroke while en route to Jamrat to perform the ritual of stoning the devil. Temperatures in Mecca this year soared to 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 degrees Fahrenheit).

Mohammed Al-Abdulaali, a spokesperson for the Saudi health ministry, reported that on July 16 alone, over 2,760 pilgrims suffered from sunstroke and heat stress.