Suhail Bhat
SRINAGAR, June 16: The first batch of 178 Hajj pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir is scheduled to return to Srinagar from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, tomorrow, marking the beginning of the return phase of Hajj 2025.
According to Dr. Shujaat Ahmad Qureshi, Chief Executive Officer of the Jammu and Kashmir Hajj Committee, the group had departed from Srinagar on May 4 as part of the first outbound flight. “The same group of 178 pilgrims will return tomorrow evening,” he said.
The flight is expected to land at Srinagar International Airport at around 8:30 PM. Dr. Qureshi has urged the relatives of the pilgrims to avoid reaching the airport early and instead arrive by 9:30 PM, considering it will take about an hour for immigration clearance and baggage collection. He said family members are required to download vehicle passes from the official Hajj Committee website to gain access to the reception area.
Officials said that elaborate arrangements have been put in place at the airport by the Hajj Committee in coordination with civil administration. Facilities such as immigration desks, medical support, and transportation services have been arranged to ensure a smooth and hassle-free reception for the pilgrims.
Dr. Qureshi said a total of 3,606 pilgrims from Jammu and Kashmir undertook the pilgrimage this year out of a total allotment of 4,200. “Some pilgrims cancelled their travel at the last moment,” he said. Of the total pilgrims, 3,600 traveled through an installment-based payment scheme.
He informed that there will be a gap of 10 days between the arrival of different batches. After the first flight on June 17, the next set of flights will operate on June 26, 27 and 28, with the final return flight scheduled for July 11.
He also mentioned that due to the Saudi Government’s restrictions on Umrah and other visit visas, the number of pilgrims this year was controlled globally. “Around 1.6 million pilgrims performed Hajj worldwide this year, which is nearly 2 million fewer than last year,” he said.
Highlighting challenges, Dr. Qureshi noted that Hajj costs have risen due to global inflation, high airfares from Srinagar, and the 15% Value Added Tax (VAT) introduced by the Saudi Government in 2019. “The end of the Rs 30,000-40,000 subsidy after 2018 and a Rs 60,000 airfare difference between Srinagar and Delhi have made Hajj more expensive,” he said.
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