A tragic road accident in Saudi Arabia has claimed the lives of seven Pakistani Umrah pilgrims. All of them were members of the same family from Dagai Khudokhel in Buner district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
According to media reports, the family had traveled to Saudi Arabia 11 days ago to perform Umrah. Among the deceased were four children. Five other family members were injured and are currently receiving medical treatment.
The incident has left the local community in shock. Family relatives confirmed that funeral prayers for the deceased will take place in Saudi Arabia.
This incident adds to the recent tragedies involving Pakistani pilgrims. Earlier, the Ministry of Religious Affairs reported 18 deaths of Pakistani pilgrims during Hajj 2025. Most of these deaths were due to health issues such as heart conditions. All were buried in Jannatul Baqi in Medina.
Compared to last year, the number of Hajj-related deaths has decreased. In 2024, 35 Pakistani pilgrims lost their lives. Officials credit improved health services and safety protocols for this year’s lower fatality rate.
During Hajj 2025, a total of 1,673,230 pilgrims participated. Out of these, 1,506,576 were international pilgrims from 171 countries. Domestic pilgrims numbered 166,654. The gender ratio was nearly balanced, with 877,841 men and 795,389 women attending.
Saudi Arabia took several steps to protect pilgrims from extreme heat. New cooling systems were installed at major Hajj sites. These measures were introduced after over 1,300 pilgrims died during last year’s heatwave, where temperatures hit 51.8°C (125°F).
This latest road tragedy is a sad reminder of the need for better transport safety during pilgrimages. Pakistani authorities are working with Saudi Arabia to assist the injured and arrange support for the affected family.
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