The recent Hajj 2025 pilgrimage saw a substantial number of attendees, with host Saudi authorities diligently working to prevent a recurrence of last year’s tragic more than 1,000 deaths due to extreme heat.
Approximately 1.4 million pilgrims arrived in Saudi Arabia in preparation for the Hajj, a fundamental pillar of Islam that is incumbent upon all Muslims with the financial and physical capability to perform it at least once in their lifetime.
Saudi authorities implemented extensive heat protection measures, involving over 40 government agencies and 250,000 officials. These initiatives included providing additional shade to avert a repeat of last year’s devastating toll, when 1,301 individuals perished as temperatures soared to 51.8°C (125.2°F).
However, sources within Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs have confirmed that a total of 18 Pakistani pilgrims, comprising 10 men and eight women, passed away during this year’s Hajj. The majority of these fatalities, according to the sources, were elderly individuals who succumbed to heart attacks and various illnesses, and they were subsequently interred in Jannatul Baqi in Saudi Arabia. This figure represents a notable decrease compared to last year’s fatalities among Pakistani pilgrims, when 35 Pakistanis died while performing Hajj in 2024.
It is noteworthy that as part of this year’s enhanced precautionary measures, which expanded by 50,000 square meters (12 acres), thousands of additional medical personnel were on standby, and over 400 cooling units were deployed to provide comfort and support to the pilgrims.
