New Delhi (PTI): Ninety-eight Indians have died during the annual Haj pilgrimage to Makkah largely due to natural causes, chronic illnesses and old age, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the total number of deaths of Indians in the entire Haj period last year was 187.

As many as 1,75,000 Indian pilgrims visited Makkah, Islam's holiest city, for Haj this year.

"Every year a large number of pilgrims from India attend Haj, and some of them unfortunately pass away during the Haj period. This year, 175000 Indian pilgrims visited Makkah for Haj," Jaiswal said at his weekly media briefing.

"The Haj period is from May 9 to July 22. This year, till now, 98 deaths have been reported. The deaths have been due to natural causes, chronic illnesses, and old age," he said.

"Six people died on the day of Arafat and four were accident-related deaths. Last year, total deaths in the entire Haj period were 187," Jaiswal said.

According to reports, more than 900 pilgrims have died this year during Haj that has been marked by heat waves.

Some of the deaths have reportedly been due to heat-related illnesses as temperatures crossed over 50 degree Celsius in Mecca