The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) reported on Friday that 98 Indians have died during the annual Muslim pilgrimage of Haj to Mecca. This number, while tragic, is an improvement from the 187 Indian deaths recorded during the entire Haj period last year.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal provided the update during his weekly media briefing. He noted that this year, 175,000 Indian pilgrims traveled to Mecca for Haj, which spans from May 9 to July 22.
Details of the pilgrimage and deaths
“So far, 98 deaths have been reported,” Jaiswal said. “The causes of death include natural causes, chronic illnesses, and old age. Notably, six people died on the day of Arafat, and four deaths were due to accidents.”
Government’s response and ongoing efforts
Jaiswal’s comments came in response to a query regarding the fatalities among Indian pilgrims during this year’s Haj. The MEA continues to monitor the situation closely and provide support to the families of the deceased.
The annual Haj pilgrimage is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, drawing millions of Muslims from around the globe to the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.