Two Bengaluru Pilgrims Among Hundreds Indian Dead in This Year's Hajj

20 June

News Flash

Extreme Heat Claims Lives of Bengaluru Pilgrims During Hajj in Saudi Arabia

Bengaluru: Tragedy struck this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia as two pilgrims from Bengaluru lost their lives, officials confirmed today. The deceased, identified as Kausar Rukhsana, 69, from RT Nagar, and Abdul Ansari, 54, from Fraser Town, succumbed due to extreme heat during the pilgrimage. Additionally, two other pilgrims from Bengaluru perished from dehydration and heatstroke amidst soaring temperatures.

The incident occurred during the Rami al-Jamarat ritual in the Mina valley, an essential rite of the Hajj pilgrimage, shared Karnataka State Haj Committee Executive Officer S Sarfaraz Khan with news agency PTI. Khan emphasized that as per longstanding agreements, the bodies of deceased pilgrims cannot be repatriated and have been interred by local authorities in Saudi Arabia.

"Both Rukhsana and Ansari were slated to return on June 22 along with other pilgrims," Khan added, detailing the unfortunate turn of events. This year, Karnataka has witnessed a significant number of Hajj participants, with over 10,300 pilgrims undertaking the journey out of 13,500 applications received by the state government.

The deaths of these pilgrims underscore the challenges faced by participants during the Hajj season, with authorities continuing to provide necessary assistance and support to affected families.