ISLAMABAD: The Saudi authorities hosting the Hajj 2025 pilgrimage are frantically trying to prevent the more than 1,000 deaths that occurred in the oppressive heat last year.
Prior to the Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam that every Muslim who has the means must perform at least once, almost 1.4 million pilgrims traveled to Saudi Arabia.
In order to prevent a recurrence of last year’s 1,301 fatalities due to temperatures reaching 51.8°C (125.2°F), Saudi authorities mobilized nearly 40 government agencies and 250,000 officials to implement heat protection measures, including additional shade.
However, according to authorities at Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs, up to 18 Pakistani pilgrims—10 men and 8 women—died during this year’s Hajj.
