India's Hajj death toll rises to 98, says Foreign Ministry

At least 98 Indian pilgrims died during Hajj this year due to "natural causes," Indian media reported Friday, citing the country's Foreign Ministry spokesperson.

Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told a weekly briefing that some 175,000 Indians have visited Saudi Arabia for Hajj so far this year.

This year's Hajj pilgrimage coincided with a sharp rise in temperatures in Mecca, Islam's holiest city, and witnessed the presence of about 1.8 million people of various nationalities.

So far, around 10 countries have reported over 1,000 deaths during the pilgrimage.

(With input from agencies)