Dehydration kills 77 haj pilgrims

JAKARTA: Dehydration remains the chief reason for the death of Indonesians who have completed their haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, an official said.

The deputy chairman of the Indonesian committee for haj pilgrimage, Yusharmen, said some of the haj pilgrims, particularly the older ones, were exhausted after they prayed in Arafah desert and went on to throw stones at three pillars symbolizing satan in Mina.

"They suffered from dehydration after being exposed to the heat of the sun," Yusharmen said.

Since the Islamic Day of Sacrifice on Feb. 23, the climax of the pilgrimage, 77 Indonesians have died.

The number of deaths during last season's pilgrimage stood at 213, a drop from the 2000 figure of 258.

Around 200,000 Indonesians performed the holy pilgrimage this year. They will return home in batches.

A total of 310 Indonesian haj pilgrims have died since the first group arrived in Saudi Arabia on Jan. 20. Most of the deceased were male.

Heart attack was the major cause of death, claiming the lives of 162 haj pilgrims, followed by lung cancer, which claimed 99 lives.

Of the haj pilgrims who died, 227 of them were over 60 years of age. -- JP