Two pilgrims from Bengaluru are among the hundreds of people who died during this year’s Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, as the faithful faced intense high temperatures at Islam’s holy sites in the desert kingdom.
On June 20, officials informed that the deceased are Kouser Rukhsana (69) from R.T. Nagar and Abdul Ansari (54) from Frazer Town.
Due to the intense heatwave, the two pilgrims from Bengaluru, like many other nationals, died of dehydration and sunstroke.
“The tragedy occurred when the pilgrims were reportedly taking part in the Ramy al-jamarat (stoning of the devil) ritual at Mina valley, located on the outskirts of Mecca,” informed S. Sarfaraz Khan, Executive Officer of the Karnataka State Haj Committee.
Citing the customs and agreements with the Saudi Arabian government, he said bodies of the pilgrims who die during the pilgrimage are not brought back to their native place.
“So, bodies of Kouser Rukhsana and Abdul Ansari have been buried there by the authorities concerned. The death certificates will also be handed over to their spouses,” Mr. Khan said.
According to him, both the victims, along with other pilgrims, were scheduled to return to Bengaluru on June 22.
This year, the government of Karnataka received close to 13,500 applications, out of which over 10,300 persons undertook the Hajj pilgrimage.
Published - June 20, 2024 04:50 pm IST
