In scorching sun, Pakistani volunteer helps Hajj pilgrims beat the heat

Ali Ahad sprinkles water over the head of pilgrim near Mount Arafat during the annual pilgrimage of Hajj on July 9, 2022. (AN photo by Sib Kaifee)
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Updated 09 July 2022
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In scorching sun, Pakistani volunteer helps Hajj pilgrims beat the heat

  • Gujranwala native has been working as electrician at the Grand Mosque in Makkah
  • He is one of the hundreds of people volunteering to stand in the sun to keep pilgrims hydrated

MAKKAH: When Ali Ahad sprinkled water over the head of a middle-aged pilgrim who descended from Mount Arafat, the man kissed his forehead in gratitude.

The Pakistani volunteer was there to help as hundreds of thousands of Muslims from around the world offered prayers of repentance on the sacred hill on Friday. 

“Can there be anything more rewarding than this?” he told Arab News, as he handed a bottle of water to another pilgrim.

The Gujranwala native said he has been working as electrician at the Grand Mosque in Makkah for the past five years.

He is one of the hundreds of people from across the holy city who have been volunteering to stand in the sun to keep hydrated the pilgrims who arrived in Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj — a spiritual journey and one of the five pillars of Islam.

As in the shade the mercury hits over 42 degrees Celsius, Saudi authorities have installed thousands of water sprinklers to help the pilgrims cool.

But additional assistance is always needed as many pilgrims are not able to bear the heat.

“They are feeling extremely hot,” Ahad said. “I am very happy to be distributing water among them.”


At least six killed in roof collapse in Pakistan’s northwest

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At least six killed in roof collapse in Pakistan’s northwest

  • Five others trapped under the rubble were rescued and shifted to hospital, rescue official says
  • Roof collapses are a recurring hazard in Pakistan often due to poor construction, aging buildings

ISLAMABAD: At least six people, including women and children, were killed and five others injured after dilapidated roof of a house collapsed in Pakistan’s northwestern Charsadda district, a rescue official said on Sunday.

The roof collapse occurred in Shabqadar tehsil of Charsadda, trapping several people, who had come to attend a wedding, under the rubble, according to local media reports.

A Rescue 1122 spokesman said their teams immediately rushed to the site, rescued five people and retrieved bodies of the deceased.

“Rescue 1122 personnel removed the debris with utmost caution and evacuated the affected people, who were transferred to a nearby hospital,” the spokesman said.

Roof collapses are a recurring hazard across Pakistan. Many such incidents are linked to poor construction practices, aging buildings, and a lack of adherence to building codes.

Informal housing settlements and older urban neighborhoods are especially vulnerable as decades-old roofs often fail to withstand prolonged downpours or snowfall.

In a statement, Shafi Jan, adviser to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) chief minister on information, expressed grief over the loss of human lives in the incident.

“The provincial government extends its sympathies and condolences to the families of the deceased,” he said.