Nearly 1,300 Hajj pilgrims died in Saudi Arabia this year, mostly due to heat exhaustion and related complications.

Temperatures in Mecca reached 51 degree Celsius last week

Saudi Arabia on June 24 said that most of the deceased did not have official permits

Each year, millions of Muslims from across the world embark on the haj pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

Mecca is considered the holiest city for Muslims. And hajj is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, making it a mandatory religious duty for Muslims to perform at least once in their lifetime

The fatalities this year included more than 660 Egyptians

India's external affairs ministry on June 21 said that out of the total deceased, 98 are Indians.

Pakistan, Malaysia, Jordan, Iran, Senegal, Sudan and Iraq's autonomous Kurdistan region have also confirmed deaths.