Diplomats on Tuesday said at least 550 pilgrims died during the hajj, underscoring the grueling nature of the pilgrimage which again unfolded in scorching temperatures this year.
At least 323 of those who died were Egyptians, most of them succumbing to heat-related illnesses, two Arab diplomats coordinating their countries.
“All of them (the Egyptians) died because of heat” except for one who sustained fatal injuries during a minor crowd crush, one of the diplomats said, adding the total figure came from the hospital morgue in the Al-Muaisem neighbourhood of Mecca.
At least 60 Jordanians also died, the diplomats said, up from an official tally of 41 given earlier on Tuesday by Amman. The new deaths bring the total reported so far by multiple countries to 577. The diplomats said the total at the morgue in Al-Muaisem, one of the biggest in Mecca, was 550.
Hajj holds special significance that unites Muslims from diverse backgrounds, cultures and languages and reinforces the principles of equality, humility and devotion to God where through the Islamic pilgrimage, the pilgrims seek forgiveness, spiritual purification and deeper connection with their faith.
It is a lifetime experience with lasting impacts on the hearts and minds of those who undertake it and it is a transformative experience for Muslims.
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