NEW DELHI, June 20:
The death toll during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia climbed to over 1,000 as the intense heat wave pushed the temperature past 100° F in Mecca. The annual pilgrimage has seen around 10 countries report a total of 1,081 deaths. Earlier this week, temperatures in the holy city of Mecca reached a scorching high of 125 degrees Fahrenheit.
Fatalities have been confirmed by several countries including India, Egypt, Malaysia, Pakistan, Jordan, Indonesia, Iran, Senegal and Tunisia.
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While Saudi Arabia has not provided information on fatalities, it did report more than 2,700 cases of “heat exhaustion” on Sunday alone.
“People were tired after being chased by security forces before Arafat day. They were exhausted,” an Arab diplomat said. (Agencies)
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