Saudi cops give umbrellas to pilgrims

Saudi Police fanned out through the western town of Makkah to distribute umbrellas to pilgrims to protect them from sun strikes after temperatures climbed above 45 degrees Celsius on Tuesday noon, a newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Police cars were seen stopping pilgrims and giving them umbrellas through the streets of the holy city, where more than two million Muslims converged for the annual Haj (pilgrimage) season, starting on Wednesday.

The Arabic language daily 'Sabq' published pictures showing a policeman stepping out of his car to hand an umbrella to a Nigerian pilgrim dressed in traditional Haj clothes.