Cairo

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The Egyptian government said on Saturday (June 22) that it withdrew the licenses of 16 tourism companies and referred them to the public prosecutor, accusing them of being responsible for the deaths of Egyptian pilgrims in Mecca.

A unit headed by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly was formed to address the situation. Citing medical and security sources, the news agency Reuters reported that at least 530 Egyptians died during this year's pilgrimage.

Also read | Hajj pilgrims death: Toll surpasses 1,000 amid day temperature soaring above 50 degrees

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Meanwhile, a statement from the unit said that 31 deaths were confirmed as a result of chronic illness. The statement said that tourism companies that facilitated the travel of those who died did not provide them with services of any kind, including medical.

No appropriate accommodation provided

The tourism companies have been blamed for sending pilgrims to Saudi Arabia on personal visit visas, rather than Hajj visas that allow access to Mecca where Hajj rituals take place.

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Medical services offered by Saudi authorities to alleviate the hardships of the pilgrimage are not offered to those travelling with a personal visa, Reuters reported.

The government unit pointed out that the pilgrims who died had to walk through the desert into Mecca to avoid arrest or deportation.

Authorities, meanwhile said that the companies also did not provide the pilgrims with "appropriate accommodation." This caused pilgrims' "exhaustion due to the high temperatures."

Majority of victims were unregistered

Cairo documented 31 deaths among registered Egyptian pilgrims, citing "chronic diseases" as the cause of deaths. The unit further said that Most of those who died were unregistered. 

In a statement, the Egyptian cabinet said, "The prime minister has ordered the licenses of these companies to be revoked, their managers to be referred to the public prosecutor, and the imposition of a fine to benefit the families of the pilgrims who died because of them."

(With inputs from agencies)