At least 18 Pakistani pilgrims, most of them elderly, lost their lives during this year’s Hajj pilgrimage, according to a report by 24NewsHD TV channel citing sources from the Ministry of Religious Affairs.
Among the deceased were 10 men and 8 women. Ministry officials stated that the primary causes of death were heart-related issues and other health complications commonly affecting older individuals.
All those who passed away were laid to rest in Jannatul Baqi, the sacred cemetery in Medina.
For comparison, a total of 35 Pakistani pilgrims had died during last year’s Hajj.
This year, around 113,620 Pakistanis took part in the pilgrimage, which concluded last Monday. Of these, approximately 89,000 traveled under the government Hajj scheme, while 23,620 pilgrims went through private tour operators.
The return flights for pilgrims to Pakistan are currently ongoing and are expected to conclude by July 10.
