Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 5: With the first batch of Haj pilgrims scheduled to leave for Saudi Arabia from August, 17, the Hajj and Auqaf Minister, Abdul Rehman Veeri today directed officials to ensure all facilities to the faithfuls to make their stay and travel hassle-free and comfortable.
“All facilities should be ensured to the ‘Aazmeen-e-Hajj’ (Haj pilgrims) to make their stay and travel from and to the state hassle-free and comfortable,” Veeri said while chairing a high level meeting which was convened to take stock of arrangements put in place by the State Hajj Committee and various State and Central departments for the conduct of this year’s pilgrimage from the state.
Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Secretary Revenue, Inspector General Traffic, Kashmir, DIG Police Srinagar, DG Fire Services, Chief Engineers of various Engineering Departments, Municipal Commissioner, Srinagar, Director Health Services, Kashmir, Director Airport Authority of India, Srinagar besides other concerned officers attended the meeting.
The meeting was informed that flights for Hajj pilgrims from Srinagar to Saudi Arabia will operate from August 17. While two daily flights will operate between Srinagar and Medina from August 17 to 21, a single flight will operate on a daily basis from August 22 till August 31. Each flight will carry 340 pilgrims, he said.
Receiving brief on different aspects of arrangements point by point, Veeri, who is also Vice Chairman of the State Hajj Committee emphasized on ensuring all facilities to the pilgrims to and fro as also at Saudi Arabia. He said all agencies responsible for the conduct of Hajj should work in close coordination to render best services to the pilgrims.
The meeting was told that necessary vaccination to the pilgrims has already been completed. Matters pertaining to the transportation of pilgrims from Jammu to Srinagar and the arrangements made for their boarding and lodging at Hajj House were also discussed in detail in the meeting.
Meanwhile the Minister inspected the residential block of the Hajj House Bemina and took stock of the arrangements made for the boarding and lodging of the Hajj pilgrims. He was informed that 200 Hajj pilgrims would be accommodated in the residential block at a time.
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