In a disheartening revelation, two pilgrims who recently returned from the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia have shared their experiences with CNN, highlighting the lack of medical support and basic facilities in the face of scorching temperatures. The official death toll from this year's pilgrimage has soared to nearly 500, as eyewitnesses recount worshippers losing consciousness and passing by bodies covered in white cloth during the mass religious event.

Extreme weather conditions, with temperatures consistently above average figures, posed a significant challenge for this year's Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. The exact death toll remains unclear and is expected to rise further as each country independently reports the deaths of their nationals. Concerns are also raised about unregistered pilgrims, for whom more deaths are feared.

Zirrar Ali, who returned to London with his father, expressed disappointment over authorities not providing enough water, shade, and medical support during his week-long stay. Ali shared his concerns over the shortage of medics, suggesting that they appeared to wait for the worst-case scenarios before intervening. Witnesses like Ali reported incidents of pilgrims passing out becoming a regular occurrence, leading to a distressing environment during the pilgrimage.

Similarly, Ahmad from Indonesia echoed these sentiments, stating that he witnessed many people falling ill and even dying due to the intense heat. Ahmad described a grim scene on his journey back home, with bodies lying covered in white fabric every few hundred meters. He also noted the absence of health workers and ambulances along the road.

Both Ali and Ahmad criticized the poor infrastructure and organization of this year's pilgrimage, particularly for those who traveled independently outside of licensed tour groups. Acquiring one of the 1.8 million available licenses to legally access Mecca is mandatory, with the cost ranging in several thousand US dollars. Unlicensed pilgrims often lack access to necessities such as air-conditioned tour buses, water, and food supplies.

Despite the challenges, all pilgrims are required to spend the majority of their day walking outdoors in the scorching heat. While the long walk is considered part of the Hajj experience, Ali emphasized that the Saudi government should have provided more assistance, stating that the hardships pilgrims faced were not a part of the Hajj rituals.

CNN has reached out to Saudi authorities regarding the reported inadequate response to this year's heat but is yet to receive a response. With over 1.8 million participants, the Hajj pilgrimage is one of the world's largest religious gatherings, according to the Saudi General Authority for Statistics. Previous years have also seen deaths among pilgrims, but this year's gathering took place in particularly high temperatures, falling in June, one of the hottest months in the kingdom.

As the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths and the lack of medical support continues, questions arise about the preparedness of the Saudi government to ensure the safety and well-being of the millions of pilgrims who undertake this significant journey.