Hajj pilgrims advised to avoid sun

At least five pilgrims have died, 20,000 sick due to heat, says official

ISLAMABAD: So far, 100,000 intending Pakistani pilgrims have reached Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj, out of which five have passed died and over 20,000 have fallen victim to heat-related illnesses and improper food intake.

Talking to The Express Tribune, an official privy to the Hajj arrangements said that majority of the intending pilgrims are not paying heed to the directions given to them regarding avoiding exposure to heat, especially in the day, and following a prescribed diet plan, which includes maximum intake of fluids and less fatty food.

“The Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony is repeatedly requesting intending pilgrims especially women and people above 60 years of age to avoid offering Zuhr and Asar prayers outside under the scorching sun or performing Umrah during the day, but a majority of them are not following these directions, due to which thousands have fallen prey to heat-related diseases,” he said.

The official said that deaths of five pilgrims were directly or indirectly attributable to heat-related diseases. Of them, four went under the government Hajj scheme and one through a private Hajj tour operator, he added.

“People are performing two to three Umrahs back-to-back during the day in scorching heat amid huge crowds without taking proper precautionary measures and without increasing water intake, due to which they are becoming victims of heatstroke,” he said.

Meanwhile, many people of them are either overeating or stuffing themselves with fatty food, lassi which is also giving them health issues.

The official reiterated that the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony has requested intending pilgrims to consider the severity of the weather in their decisionmaking.

“They have been asked to perform their additional prayers after performing Hajj as they need to remain fit and healthy for the pilgrimage rituals,” he said.