RIYADH: So far 54 Muslim pilgrims died before the annual Hajj pilgrimage begins in Saudi Arabia, Anadolu Agency reported.
And in one day i.e; on late Sunday of August, 13, at least thirty one (31) people have lost their lives, the country’s official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
No further information was given by authorities regarding the cause of the pilgrim’s deaths; however, the news agency reported that the all pilgrims were foreign nationals.
As of August 12, as many as 623,313 pilgrims had arrived in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the agency reported.
More pilgrims are expected to come in days and weeks ahead from all around the world to Saudi Arabia to perform the 2017 Hajj rituals.
This year’s annual Hajj pilgrimage is set to begin on Wednesday, August 30, and get conclude on Monday, September 4 Aug. 30 with the celebration of Eid-ul-Adha.
Following the last year’s deadly stampede, Saudi authorities have tightened security at pilgrimage sites.
During the 2015 Hajj season, at least 2,297 pilgrims lost their lives after a massive construction crane collapsed into Makkah’s Grand Mosque.