In the wake of over 900 deaths reported during this year’s Haj pilgrimage, Pakistan’s Ministry of Religious Affairs has urged the public to disregard social media posts regarding the hardships faced by pilgrims, labelling them as “inauthentic.”
The fatalities, which occurred amid soaring temperatures, included 600 Egyptians, 144 Indonesians, 68 Indians, 60 Jordanians, 35 Pakistanis, 35 Tunisians, 11 Iranians, and three Senegalese, according to diplomats and officials.
Temperatures in Makkah reached a staggering 51.8 degrees Celsius, exacerbating the situation. Although Saudi Arabia has not released official death toll figures, it did report over 2,700 cases of “heat exhaustion” on Sunday alone.
Abdul Wahab Soomro, Director General of Pakistan’s Haj Mission, confirmed 35 Pakistani deaths as of 4 PM on June 18, distributed across Makkah, Madina, Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah.
In a statement from Islamabad, Soomro addressed a viral video showing bodies on footpaths and unresponsive officials. He dismissed the video as unverifiable and stressed that official information comes directly from the Saudi government and is cross-verified by the mission.
Soomro emphasised the importance of relying on credible sources for accurate information. He acknowledged the challenges posed by extreme heat, which soared to 50 degrees Celsius, and noted that the Saudi government had established a burial system in Haramain, with provisions to repatriate bodies upon request by heirs.
Reports and video clips of pilgrims facing severe difficulties surfaced on June 16. Some pilgrims claimed they were confined in the Muzdalifah valley by local authorities, who had cordoned off the area, preventing them from leaving. Others mentioned a four-hour delay in train services and the lack of water mist fans, leading to fainting due to heat and suffocation.
Early Monday, videos emerged showing darkness, with pilgrims alleging a power outage. On Sunday, the Ministry of Religious Affairs dismissed these incidents as routine regulatory measures by Saudi authorities to manage crowds and ensure pilgrim safety.
The ministry continues to urge the public to seek information from verified and credible sources to avoid misinformation during such critical events.