In a tragic development, two pilgrims from Karnataka passed away in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday due to the extreme heatwave conditions prevailing in the Middle East.
State officials confirmed the deaths of the two individuals, one of whom was a woman, both aged between 60-70 years and hailing from Bengaluru. The state authorities have been in contact with Arab officials to inquire about the well-being of other pilgrims from Karnataka.
As per the Karnataka State Haj Committee, the deceased pilgrims were identified as Kouser Rukhsana (69) from RT Nagar and Mohammed Ilyas (62) from Pulikeshi Nagar, originally from Chitradurga. The unfortunate incident occurred during the ritual of Ramy al-Jamarat (Stoning of the Devil) at Mina valley, located on the outskirts of Mecca. The scorching heatwave led to a rush among pilgrims to complete the ritual quickly, causing exhaustion among many, especially the elderly. Tragically, the two pilgrims from Karnataka, like several others, succumbed to dehydration and sunstroke.
Executive Officer S Sarfaraz Khan of the Karnataka State Haj Committee explained that Saudi authorities had warned pilgrims against going out in the afternoon sun. Despite the warnings, the pilgrims, eager to fulfill all rituals, found themselves in the crowded valley with participants from different nations. The two deceased pilgrims, along with their group, were scheduled to return to Bengaluru on June 22.
The bodies of the deceased pilgrims will be laid to rest in Saudi Arabia.
According to the customs and agreement with the Saudi Arabian government, the bodies of pilgrims who pass away during the pilgrimage will not be repatriated to their home country. “Death in the holy city during the pilgrimage period is considered the ultimate display of faith, and the bodies of the deceased pilgrims are not returned to their place of origin. In fact, the number of pilgrim deaths has been on the rise, and there was no space available in any of the mortuaries. Consequently, the Saudi authorities have reportedly conducted the necessary rituals and buried the bodies of the two pilgrims from Karnataka,” Khan clarified.
Although it is common for one or two devotees to pass away during the Hajj pilgrimage each year, it is usually due to underlying health conditions and age-related illnesses. “However, this year, it was unfortunate that the pilgrims died as a result of the heatwave conditions rather than any pre-existing ailments. The state government received 13,500 applications this year, out of which 10,500 applicants were selected. Karnataka’s quota was increased, allowing for an additional 3,000 pilgrims to be accommodated, as confirmed by the officials. CM Siddaramaiah had officially inaugurated the pilgrimage teams in the final week of May.”
