The Ghanaian Minaret

Accra: The family of the late Hajia Sarata Gimba, a Ghanaian who passed away while performing Hajj, is holding adua (prayer) for their deceased relative on Sunday.

The late pilgrim who died on the day of Arafah was among some six Ghanaian nationals who were said to have passed away in Saudi Arabia.

The adua would be taking place at Accra Sabon Zango within the Ablekuma Central Municipal Assembly.

Over 1000 pilgrims are reported dead due to extreme heat, with temperatures reaching as high as 51 degrees Celsius.

The high temperature caused some pilgrims to suffer from heatstroke, also called sunstroke, which is the most severe form of hyperthermia, or heat-related illness that can lead to brain damage, organ failure, or death.

During an interview on Citi Eyewitness News, the Spokesperson of the Ghana Hajj Board, Alhaji Abdul Rahman Gomda, said that in addition to the six confirmed deaths, there were some 13 Ghanaian pilgrims who are feared dead.

These, he explained, were pilgrims who embarked on Hajj using non-Hajj visas.

Even though the Hajj activities for the year have ended, Saudi authorities, in collaboration with officials of participating countries, are working to establish the impact of the climate-induced heat wave on the pilgrimage.

According to Saudi authorities, more than 1.83 million Muslims performed Hajj this year.

They are made up of 222,000 Saudi citizens and residents and more than 1.6 million Muslims from some 22 countries.