Ninety-eight Indians have died during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage amid extreme heat in Saudi Arabia, the Indian government announced on Friday, attributing all deaths to “natural causes”. So far, 1,75,000 Indians have participated in the Hajj, with the government promising to provide all possible support to them.
In total, around 1,081 deaths have been reported from about 10 countries during the pilgrimage, a fundamental Islamic practice that all capable Muslims must undertake at least once in their lifetime. This year’s Hajj took place during the intense Saudi summer, with temperatures reaching a scorching 51.8 degrees Celsius (125 Fahrenheit).
The Hajj pilgrimage requires extensive walking and praying, making it particularly challenging under such extreme heat. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that heat kills at least half a million people annually, warning that the true figure could be up to 30 times higher.
The Union Health Ministry in India has introduced a document outlining the healthcare services available to Hajj pilgrims. These measures include revising medical screening processes, issuing health cards to selected pilgrims, providing vaccines, establishing health desks at embarkation points, deploying healthcare personnel, and setting up medical facilities at various sites.
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A 2019 study published in the journal ‘Geophysical Research Letters’ predicted that due to climate change, heat stress during Hajj will exceed the “extreme danger threshold” in periods from 2047 to 2052 and 2079 to 2086, with increasing frequency and intensity as the century progresses.
The Hajj is a significant source of prestige for the Saudi royal family, with King Salman’s official title including “Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques”, referring to the sacred sites in Mecca and Medina. Despite numerous safety measures, the pilgrimage has experienced several tragedies, the most recent being a stampede in 2015 during the “stoning the devil” ritual, which resulted in up to 2,300 deaths.
