Front Page
|
|
|
| | First batch of Haj pilgrims leaves for Jeddah | | | SRINAGAR, Sep 18: The first batch of 270 Haj pilgrims from Srinagar International Airport today embarked on the holy journey to Saudi Arabia for the annual pilgrimage.
Dressed in white, the pilgrims arrived at the Haj house at Bemina in the wee hours as hundreds of their relatives and well wishers came to see them off to the pilgrimage.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah accompanied by Haj and Auqaf Minister Aijaz Ahmad Khan and other senior officials of the civil and police administration flagged off the pilgrim group which boarded the flight at the Srinagar International Airport.
After a gap of four years, Air India this year is operating direct flights from Srinagar to Saudi Arabia for the convenience of the pilgrims.
The officials at the Srinagar Airport said that the first flight of pilgrims carrying 270 Haj pilgrims left Srinagar for Madinah morning at 10.40 a.m. The Civil Aviation Ministry this year removed all bottlenecks in this regard and ensures that the status of the airport as an international one is restored.
The officials also said that there would be only one flight for the Haj pilgrims on the first day. However, Air India will operate two Haj flights daily from Srinagar international airport to Madinah till the last Haj flight will leave from Srinagar.
The State Hajj Committee had made elaborate arrangements for foreign exchange, security clearance and other formalities were completed at the Haj House from where the pilgrims boarded buses for the Srinagar International Airport.
Elaborate security and convenience for the pilgrims have been made by the state government which is overseen by senior civil and police officers. The Haj officials had also provided elaborate arrangements of transport from Bemina Haj house to International airport.
This year over 8,700 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir are performing the annual Haj using official channels while another 500 are being facilitated by private travel operators. |
|
|
|
|
Comment on this Story |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|