Jeddah, Oct 12 (IANS): Five Indian pilgrims have died in Saudi Arabia while undertaking the annual Haj pilgrimage.

"As of today five pilgrims have expired out of which four came through Haj Committee of India and one through a private tour operator," said a release from the Consulate General of India here Tuesday evening.

There are 42,929 pilgrims who have arrived here from India for the annual Haj pilgrimage. Of these, 7,852 are in Makkah and 35,073 are in Madina. Also, 6,066 pilgrims have moved from Makkah to Madina.

These pilgrims have arrived here from different parts of India -- Delhi (14,293), Guwahati (2,191), Hyderabad (4,285), Jaipur (2,395), Kozhikode (6,900), Lucknow (7,133), Mangalore (320), Ranchi (2,655), Varanasi (2,757).

The Haj to Makkah, the holiest city for Muslims, is obligatory in Islam at least once in a lifetime.

Madina, the second most sacred city for Muslims, is the burial place of Prophet Mohammad and also has the three oldest mosques.