Most pilgrims who died due to heatwave lacked Hajj permits: Saudi authorities

The Saudi Embassy in Pakistan said that over a thousand Hajj pilgrims who died during their holy sojourn due to heatstroke reportedly lacked permits, which may have limited their access to air-conditioned facilities designated for authorised pilgrims, Express News reported.

According to the publication, soaring temperatures exceeding 50 degrees in Makkah during Hajj have resulted in over 1,000 deaths, with 58 Pakistani pilgrims confirmed among the deceased.

The sweltering temperatures in the holy city have also claimed the lives of 658 people from Egypt and 68 from India. Deaths of citizens from Jordan, Indonesia, Iran, Senegal, Tunisia, and the Kurdistan Region have also been confirmed.

While the Saudi government has yet to issue an official statement, the Saudi Embassy in Pakistan explained that a majority of pilgrims who died during this year's Hajj lacked official permits.

Saudi Arabia issues tourist visas to many foreign visitors, which allows them to explore the country and perform Umrah. However, these visas don't permit participation in Hajj, the annual pilgrimage.

Each year, thousands of pilgrims arrive in Makkah to perform Hajj through unofficial channels, often using visit visas. This means they lack registration with both their home governments and the Saudi authorities responsible for overseeing Hajj.  

Due to this, the lack of proper registration raises concerns about their well-being due to the inability of the authorities to verify their status.

The Saudi Embassy in Pakistan issued a statement stating that pilgrims arriving on tourist visas without Hajj permits do not have access to the designated accommodation, food, and transportation services provided by various organisations.

The Saudi government has confirmed that over 2,300 individuals are receiving medical treatment for heat-related illnesses.

Over 1.8 million people converged in the Kingdom for the Hajj pilgrimage, making it one of the largest religious gatherings globally, as reported by the Saudi General Authority for Statistics.