Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 17: Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, today gave warm send off to the first batch of Haj pilgrims from the State and wished them a safe journey and smooth performance of Manasik-e-Haj.
The Chief Minister reached Srinagar International Airport early morning today where the first group of 340 Hajis left for the holy city of Medina in a direct Air India flight.
Begum Mufti Sayeed, Minister for Haj, Auqaf & Horticulture, A. R. Veeri, Member Parliament, Mehbooba Mufti and MP and Member, Haj Committee of India, Mohammad Salim Ansari, were also present on the occasion.
While interacting with the pilgrims, Mufti Sayeed wished them well-being, success and smooth conduct of Haj-e-Baitullah. He also asked them to pray to Allah for peace and progress of the State as well as safeguarding us against the vagaries of weather. The pilgrims shook hands with him and reciprocated his good wishes.
The Hajis thanked the Chief Minister for making elaborate arrangements at the Haj House and Srinagar Airport. They also welcomed his decision to depute Secretary Revenue, Haj & Auqaf to Saudi Arabia for their facilitation and sooth conduct of the pilgrimage.
As reported earlier, 6684 Hajis from J&K will fly daily to Medina from today till August 31 through the State Haj Committee, which has made adequate arrangements for smooth conduct of the annual pilgrimage.
All arrangements of transportation, boarding and lodging, luggage checking and security at Srinagar Haj House and hassle-free screening of baggage, refreshment, food, Nimaz, distribution of travel documents and issuance of boarding passes at the Srinagar Airport are in place for the Haj pilgrims.
Air India will operate a total of 20 flights to fly Hajis from Srinagar Airport, which is one of the 21 embarkations in the country. In order to facilitate pilgrims, the Chief Minister has ordered deputation of Revenue Secretary to Saudi Arabia. He will oversee arrangements made for the Hajis and remain there till the completion of the annual pilgrimage.
Also present at the airport to see off the pilgrims were DGP, K. Rajendra, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Asgar Samoon, Secretary Revenue, Mohammad Afzal Bhat, IGP, Kashmir Zone, SMJ Gillani, Deputy Commissioner, Budgam, Mir Altaf, IGP, Traffic, J. P. Singh, DIG CKR, G.H. Bhat, Director Srinagar Airport and Executive Officer, State Haj Committee, Fayaz Ahmad Lone.
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