Over a million pilgrims gathered under the scorching sun on Wednesday for the start of Hajj, an essential pillar of Islam. Saudi authorities are making efforts to prevent a repeat of last year’s tragic event, which resulted in over 1,000 deaths due to extreme heat.
With temperatures expected to soar above 104 degrees Fahrenheit (40 degrees Celsius), pilgrims in their traditional garb slowly circled the Kaaba, the holiest site in Islam, located in Makkah’s Grand Mosque.
According to Saudi media reports, many others arrived at the expansive tent city of Mina, located on the outskirts of Makkah, where they will spend the night before the main event on Thursday, offering prayers at Mount Arafat, the site where the Prophet Mohammad is believed to have delivered his final sermon.
About 1.4 million pilgrims have traveled to Saudi Arabia in advance of Hajj, which is one of the five central tenets of Islam that all Muslims who can afford it are required to perform at least once in their lifetime.
This year, authorities have implemented enhanced safety measures to protect against the heat, such as increasing shaded areas and ensuring medical personnel are readily available. Last year, 1,301 individuals lost their lives when temperatures reached a staggering 125.2 degrees Fahrenheit (51.8 degrees Celsius).
On Wednesday, pilgrims will engage in tawaf, circling the Kaaba seven times, which is a daily prayer direction for Muslims.
Before entering Makkah, pilgrims enter a state of purity known as ihram, which involves wearing specific garments and adhering to certain behaviors.
Men wear a simple, seamless white towel-like attire that symbolizes unity, while women dress in loose white clothing that covers everything except their faces and hands.
On Tuesday afternoon, groups of pilgrims began arriving at Mina via buses, welcomed by staff who offered coffee and dates.
“I’m incredibly happy; it feels truly amazing,” expressed Reem al-Shogre, a 35-year-old Saudi woman undertaking the pilgrimage for the first time.
Artificial Intelligence
In response to last year’s devastating heatwave, authorities have mobilized over 40 government agencies and approximately 250,000 officials to enhance safety measures.
The shaded areas have been expanded by 12 acres (50,000 square meters), thousands of extra medical staff will be on high alert, and more than 400 cooling units are set to be deployed, according to Hajj Minister Tawfiq al-Rabiah.
Artificial intelligence will assist in processing the immense flow of data, including video feeds from a new fleet of drones to better manage the large crowds.
Authorities noted that most fatalities last year involved unregistered pilgrims who did not have access to air-conditioned accommodations and transport.
This year, measures against unregistered pilgrims have heightened, employing frequent inspections, drone surveillance, and numerous text alerts.
Hajj permits are allocated based on country quotas and distributed to individuals through a lottery system.
However, due to high costs, many still attempt to undertake the Hajj without permits, risking arrest and deportation if caught.
Previous Hajj events have seen overcrowding lead to dangerous situations, most notably in 2015 when a stampede during the “stoning of the devil” ritual in Mina claimed the lives of up to 2,300 people in the deadliest Hajj disaster to date.
