Nearly 100 Indians died during Hajj: Everything you need to know | Explained News

The pilgrimage involves a series of rituals that take place in and around Mecca over a period of five or six days, including multiple circumambulations of the Kaaba, ritual crossings between the hills of Safa and Marwa, climbing and praying on Mount Arafat, where the Prophet Muhammad delivered his last sermon, and the symbolic stoning of the devil in the Valley of Mina.

The pilgrimage takes place between the 8th and 13th of Dhu al-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic calendar. Since the lunar year of the Islamic calendar is 11 days shorter than the Gregorian solar year, each Gregorian year the Hajj takes place 10 or 11 days earlier than the previous year. This year the pilgrimage took place from June 14 to 19.

What are Hajj quotas?

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is responsible for conducting the pilgrimage. As the number of pilgrims has increased over the years, Saudi authorities have invested billions in improving infrastructure. Still, accommodating so many pilgrims in one place for a short period of time presents countless logistical challenges.

For this reason, every year the Saudi government issues country quotas that determine the total number of pilgrims that can make the journey from a particular country. This is done broadly based on the number of Muslims in a given country. Countries also engage in diplomatic lobbying for a higher quota.

This year, Saudi Arabia allowed 175,000 Indians to make the pilgrimage – 140,000 took part in the official pilgrimage run by the Indian Haj Committee, and the rest went through more expensive private operators. The HCoI distributes the pilgrimage to the various states based on their Muslim populations. In total, 1.8 million places have been allocated by the Saudis worldwide.

How many Hajj pilgrims have died this year?

Hundreds of pilgrims have died during this year’s hajj. The majority of the dead – 530 according to a Reuters report on Saturday – are from Egypt, where many pilgrims come to the hajj on tourist visas, a practice the Saudi government considers illegal.

This leaves them more exposed to the elements as they cannot enjoy the benefits of official hajj facilities such as air-conditioned tents. An Indian official in Jeddah said the majority of those who died came on tourist visas and carried only a single mat and an umbrella. “They are forced to sleep on the streets without tents. That is why the chances of them dying are high,” the official said.

How many Indians have died during the pilgrimage this year?

According to MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, 98 Indians have died during the pilgrimage this year. “These deaths are due to natural diseases, natural causes, chronic diseases and old age. Last year, 187 Indians died during the pilgrimage,” Jaiswal said.

“We heard that it was very hot and that many pilgrims came there on Arafat Day. That day, many people suffered from the heat wave. People from other countries suffered even more. In our country, six people died on Arafat Day,” he said.

An Indian official stationed in Jeddah told the Indian Express that two to three Indians had died due to the extreme heat.

What is the Indian government doing for its citizens who perform Hajj?

The Indian government maintains a Hajj mission in Jeddah. There is a medical mission, a hospital, ambulances and the arrangements for Indian citizens are monitored by Indian officials.

The Indian Health Ministry has said that nearly 40,000 people above the age of 60 have performed Hajj this year. Indian Health Minister Apurva Chandra said that the “harsh weather conditions” this year necessitated round-the-clock care for pilgrims. A live portal has been developed that can provide real-time data and analytics on pilgrims seeking medical care and the services provided.

What happens to the bodies of those who die during Hajj?

If someone dies during Hajj, the country’s representative is informed by the local hospital or morgue. The country’s consulate then confirms the person’s identity and obtains a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the family for burial in Saudi Arabia. Most families agree to burial in Saudi Arabia. Properly marked graves are prepared for the deceased.