Heat kills 900 pilgrims in Mecca

Despite reports that over 900 pilgrims died during the hajj pilgrimage in Muna, Makkah, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has stated that only three Nigerians died during the period.

This brings to 15 Nigerians who died in Saudi Arabia

Recall that the Agence France-Presse (AFP) had reported that 900 pilgrims died during the five days Hajj due to heat wave.

It stated that the pilgrims were mostly illegal pilgrims from Egypt who did not have access to air conditioned tenets in Arafah and Muna, Daily Trust reports.

Speaking during the post Arafat conference in Makkah, NAHCON’s Head of Medical Team, Abubakar Adamu Ismail, said the lower number was recorded due to adequate preparation

While stating that 17 pilgrimage heat stroke during the period, he said they were able to be resuscitated due to their closeness to Nigeria’s hajj camp.

“if the patients had the diagnosis in Jamarat, which is about 3kikomeyers to the camps, they would have died.

He added that 2 pregnant women had miscarriages during the period with 25 cases of severe dehydration and five cardiac arrests.

Speaking earlier, NAHCON’s head of Aviation, Eng. Mohammed Goni Sanda, said the outbound flight to Nigeria will begin on June 22 with Kebbi astate pilgrims.

He said the return flights will be based on First-in-first-out with three flights scheduled daily, which will subsequently increase to four, five and six flights daily.

On his part, the Chairman of NAHCON, Jalal Ahmed Arabi, said preparations of 2025 Hajj has commenced.

He urged states’ pilgrims welfare board to end preparation for the 2025 Hajj by September to enable it have knowledge of the number of pilgrims that will participate in the exercise.