Scorching Heatwave Claims Over 1,000 Lives: Tragedy Strikes Hajj Pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia

The death toll from this year’s hajj exceeds 1,000, an AFP tally said on Thursday

900 Pilgrims Dead, Including 68 Indians, During Hajj As Temperature In Mecca Touches 51.8 Degrees Celsius.

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Saudi state TV said temperatures rose on Monday as high as 51.8 degrees Celsius (125.2 Fahrenheit) in the shade at the Grand Mosque in Mecca.

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[{"selector":"#anim-de59219c-2eb7-4e55-ac3f-1e4120b969f7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-82deb67c-a156-4b29-93d3-852effc794d3","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The haj is an annual pilgrimage that millions of Muslims make to Mecca to perform religious rites as taught by the Prophet Mohammad to his followers 14 centuries ago.

[{"selector":"#anim-f1057b0d-3a08-470a-8f30-4c49f6245f1f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a4515149-174a-4707-8b28-baae818d8a42","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] The haj is an annual pilgrimage that millions of Muslims make to Mecca to perform religious rites as taught by the Prophet Mohammad to his followers 14 centuries ago.

[{"selector":"#anim-d74ddcd7-abdc-455b-989c-6d2ad7511f94","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-18d2f178-1add-410b-bfdb-50e263c1f042","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] Earlier this week, the Saudi Health Ministry reported 2,764 cases of heat stress on the first day of Eid Al Adha and Saudi Health Minister Fahd Al-Jalajel urged pilgrims to avoid peak summer hours (11 AM to 4 PM) when performing their remaining Hajj rituals.

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