First batch of 840 Haj pilgrims leaves from J&K
TNN Bureau. Updated: 7/26/2017 1:40:56 AM
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SRINAGAR: The first batch of pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir carrying 840 passengers in two flights left for Saudi Arabia to perform the Haj pilgrimage.
Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti led the State administration in giving a warm send off to the first batch at Srinagar airport. A total of 420 pilgrims left in the first flight of the day which took off from Srinagar Airport at 10.05 A.M., around one hour late by its scheduled time of 9 A.M.
The second batch of equal number of passengers left for the holy city of Madinah later in the day.
Before the flight took off, Mehbooba met the intending pilgrims individually and requested them to pray for peace in the State and for prosperity of its residents. She wished them a safe and smooth performance of the tenants of Hajj.
Arrangements of transportation, boarding and lodging, luggage checking and security at Srinagar Hajj House and hassle-free screening of baggage, refreshment, food, Nimaz, distribution of travel documents and issuance of boarding passes etc at the Srinagar Airport have been put in place by the authorities.
Many pilgrims thanked the Chief Minister for these arrangements including their training, documentation and other facilities.
Minister of State for Hajj & Auqaf, Syed Farooq Andrabi, MLC, Saiffudin Bhat; Chief Secretary, B.B. Vyas; Director General of police, Dr. S.P. Vaid, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Rohit Kansal; Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Baseer Ahmad Khan; IGP Kashmir zone, Muneer Khan; IGP Traffic, Jagjit Kumar; Commissioner-Secretary, Revenue, Muhammad Ashraf Mir; senior officers of State Hajj committee; Divisional and district administration; Airport Authority of India; Air India and other officers were present on the occasion.
It may be recalled that Air India will operate two flights carrying 840 intending pilgrims daily to Madinah Munawarah till August 03. More than 8100 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir have been selected this year to perform the pilgrimage which will culminate with Eid-ul-Azha in the first week of September.
Last year, nearly 6500 people traveled to Haj, but this time the Haj quota for Jammu and Kashmir was increased.