An Arab diplomat told AFP news agency on Wednesday that at least 600 Egyptians died during the Hajj pilgrimage, citing searing heat that reached 51.8 degrees Celsius on Monday.  

"All of the (newly confirmed) deaths were because of the heat as well," the diplomat said, after Arab officials earlier reported a figure of at least 323 Egyptian deaths. 

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.

Earlier on Wednesday, a diplomat in Saudi Arabia confirmed to AFP that 68 Indian nationals were among the dead. TASS reported that four Russian have died and the Tunisian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday that at least 35 Tunisian deaths were recorded during this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

(With input from agencies)