By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Saudi Arabia

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has moved swiftly to save Nigerian pilgrims from sudden death after 19 hajj pilgrims made up of Jordanians and Iranians died of severe heatstroke while trekking en route Mina tents to Jamarat to observe the rite of throwing of pebble.

During the ritual, Muslim pilgrims throw pebbles at three walls called Jamarat, in the city of Mina, east of Mecca.

It is a symbolic reenactment of Ibrahim’s (or Abraham’s) hajj, where he stoned three pillars representing the Shaitan, and Muslims’ temptation to disobey the will of Allah.

News Express Correspondent witnessed the Saudi police and paramedics evacuation of bodies on Sunday, at different locations, along the road to Jamarat.

Another Asian was spotted under the shed of a bridge trying to resuscitate his spouse from the heatstroke.

There were wailings of siren from ambulances as paramedics rush to attend to emergencies along the route.

Meanwhile, as the Jamarat right entered second day, NAHCON earlier today, Monday, June 17, 2024, asked Nigerian pilgrims to defer their movement to the symbolic throwing of pebbles at the devil till after 4 pm (Saudi Arabia local time) to avoid the scorching sun.

NAHCON gave the advisory in a notice, quoting the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

The Commission also posted it on its social media platforms.

The notice reads in full:

Urgent Notice to All Hajj Office Heads

By the directives of His Excellency the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, and to ensure the well-being of pilgrims amidst high temperatures and to prevent heat stress, the following measures have been implemented:

• Pilgrims are prohibited from proceeding to the Jamarat Bridge for the ritual of throwing stones from 11 am to 4 pm.

Security personnel will be stationed at camps to enforce this restriction and prevent any pilgrim from departing before 4 pm.

The Office of Hajj Affairs and service providers are tasked with ensuring compliance, and they will bear responsibility for any violations thereof.

However, there was a few drizzle of rain drops at exactly 4:06pm.

We pray for Allah’s protection over the pilgrims and the acceptance of their Hajj.

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