New rules in place to reduce haj pilgrim fatalities

THE Health Ministry has put new measures in place this year to monitor haj pilgrims’ health and keep them fit throughout the journey in an effort bring down high mortality rates among Indonesians performing the Muslim rite.

A total of 774 Indonesian pilgrims passed away during last year’s haj season. The figure was more than eight times the number of 2022 deaths and the highest since 2015. Government authorities blamed the mortality spike on the high number of elderly pilgrims and the extreme heat of the Saudi Arabian summer, with highs of up to 48˚C.