Hajj 2024: Over 2,700 pilgrims suffer heatstroke and exhaustion despite extensive cooling systems
Scores of pilgrims suffered heatstrokes and exhaustion on Sunday during their journeys to and from the Jamarat for the stoning rite as part of the holy Hajj 2024 pilgrimage. High temperatures have led to the deaths of an unspecified number of people.
The elderly and young non-Arabs, Europeans and Indians are mostly affected. Temperatures yesterday reached a high of 47-48 degrees Celsius, but experts predict that things could deteriorate in the days ahead. Nigerian pilgrims have reportedly been the least affected.
The Head of Emergency Unit through the Saudi Ministry of Health said that the 911 centre in the Mekkah region received a total of 78,872 calls on Sunday. Most pilgrims whose tents are located at the end of Mina have to walk 2.8 km, an average of 90-105 minutes to Jamarat.
Saudi Arabia blames non-adherence to instructions
One of the pilgrims who witnessed some concerning incidents on the way to Jamarat from Mina said: “I saw many of them falling asleep as a result of the heat when I was walking to Jamarat … Some died while some were rushed to the hospital,” reported Vanguard.
“In fact the police and the ambulance services were overwhelmed with the number of cases related to heatwaves. Many were seen lying down with people offering first aid assistance mostly within a distance of 500 metres,” the pilgrim further mentioned.
Confirming the concerning situation, the Saudi Ministry of Health on Sunday put the number of pilgrims affected by heatstroke and exhaustion at 2,764, blaming the development on non-adherence to instructions of using an umbrella and drinking water during the journey.
Stricter instructions issued to reduce heatstroke cases
To ensure the safety of all pilgrims amidst high temperatures during Hajj 2024, pilgrims are prohibited from proceeding to the Jamarat Bridge for the ritual of throwing pebbles from 11 am to 4 pm. Security personnel will be stationed at camps to enforce this restriction.
The Office of Hajj Affairs and service providers will bear responsibility for any violations of the instructions. Saudi Arabia has taken a number of measures to mitigate cases of heatstrokes, including extensive cooling systems mounted along Jamarat-Mina road.
Some pilgrims can also be seen using rechargeable handheld fans to offset the challenging conditions brought by the heat. The brutal climate change, accompanied by a recently concluded El Nino, has been making every month in 2024 cross temperature limits.
