Severe heat in Saudi Arabia, Hajj pilgrims directed to stay in tents

Mecca: Saudi Arabia is recording extremely hot weather these days, due to which the administration has instructed Hajj pilgrims to stay in tents to avoid the heat.

According to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Saudi Arabia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq Al-Rabi'ah, has urged pilgrims to avoid leaving their tents on the day of Arafat on Thursday from 10:00am to 4:00pm.

In this regard, the Ministry of Health also said that on the day of Arafat, Hajj pilgrims climb mountains, which causes extreme physical exertion and increases the risk of heatstroke, which is why they have been warned.

According to the Saudi Press Agency, the temperature during Hajj this year is predicted to exceed 40 degrees Celsius.

It is pertinent to note that on the day of Arafat, pilgrims traditionally climb Mount Arafat on the outskirts of Mecca, where they gather for prayer and recitation of the Quran.