Heat's Over, Safety's Not: Hajj Kicks Off Wednesday in Mecca '21
Pilgrimage commences on Wednesday in Mecca for Muslims
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Gear up, believers! Over a million of us will be embarking on a spiritual journey - the Muslim pilgrimage Hajj, starting this Wednesday in the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It's one of the sacrosanct pillars of Islam and every able, affluent Muslim is invited to perform it at least once in their lifetime.
So, what's on the cards for this sacred ride? We’ll be circling the Kaaba, a palm-shaped building at the heart of Grand Mosque, and carrying out a collection of profound religious rites. The Egyptian authorities are pulling out all the stops to steer clear of a repeat catastrophe such as the one in '24 where over 1,300 souls perished under the unbearable heat exceeding 51 degrees Celsius.
Get ready to see thousands of paramedics on standby, hundreds of cooling stations set up, and numerous sheltered zones for respite. AI technology will be doing the heavy lifting with crowd management.
Now, you might be curious about what's been going down with Hajj in the previous years. Well, Saudi authorities have been taking some serious measures to ensure everyone has a safe and seamless experience. Heat mitigation efforts have been a top priority as pilgrims are advised to stick to the shade, wear light-colored attire, and carry umbrellas1. Health has also been a significant focus with mandatory vaccinations for certain pilgrims, including for meningococcal disease and COVID-193.
Crowd control has been streamlined via the use of drones and AI, helping authorities keep tabs on the massive crowds5. In '25, the cool-down squad stepped up its game with over 400 cooling units, expanded shaded areas by 50,000 square meters, and an increase in medical support to thousands5. And don't forget the tough love from the authorities, cleaning up the scene by conducting sweeps and using drone surveillance to keep undesired pilgrims at bay5.
While specifics for '21 Hajj aren't exactly available, it's safe to say that the same preventive measures and efforts are being made to secure the safety and comfort of all attendees. But rest assured, the sweat is most definitely on heat mitigation and crowd management given the bitter lessons learned from past events.
Source: ntv.de via AFP
Many precautions have been implemented for the upcoming Muslim pilgrimage, Hajj, taking place in Mecca on Wednesday, aimed at ensuring the safety of over a million participants, particularly regarding heat management and crowd control. The lifestyle of pilgrims will be significantly affected by these measures, which include the use of AI technology, cooling stations, and shade provisions.
